855 
.82 


THE    PROPHET    JOSEPH    SMITH. 


THE  MONUMENT. 


PROCEED    I    NGS 

AT    THE    DEDICATION 

OF  THE 

JOSEPH  SMITH 

Memorial    Monument 


At  Sharon,  Windsor  County,  Vermont, 
December  23rd,   1905 


a  detailed  account  of  the  journey  and  visits  of  the 
CENTENNIAL  MEMORIAL  PARTY  to  Vermont 
and  other  places  in  the  Eastern  States ;  also  a  description  of  the 
Solomon  Mack  Farm  and  account  of  the  purchase  of  same. 


sr 


INTRODUCTION. 


For  many  years  it  has  been  the  fond 
feope  of  many  Latter-day  Saints  that 
the  Solomon  Mack  farm  at  Sharon, 
Windsor  county,  Viermont,  should 
•eventually  become  the  property  of  the 
Church,  to  be  held  because  of  its  his- 
torical interest  in  connection  with  the 
birth  of  the  Prophet  through  whom  the 
God  of  Israel  restored  the  everlasting 
Gospel.  With  none  has  this  dream  of 
hope  been  more  enthusiastically  con- 
sidered than  it  has  by  Elder  Junius  F. 
Wells,  to  whom  belongs  the  everlasting 
credit  of  bringing  about  the  conditions 
that  made  the  purchase  possible.  With 
this  idea  in  view,  early  in  the  year  1905, 
Elder  Wells,  at  the  request  of  the  First 
!Presidency  and  in  accordance  with 
plans  already  prepared  by  himself, 
visited  Sharon  and  inquired  into  the 
identity  of  the  location  of  the  Solomon 
Mack  farm,  which  was  occupied  by  the 
Smiths  in  December  1805,  when  the 
Prophet  Joseph  was  born.  After  a 
careful  and  successful  study  of  the 
situation,  all  arrangements  were  made 
by  Eider  Wells,  and  on  the  23rd  day  of 
May,  acting  as  agent  for  the  Trustee- 
Jn-Trust,  he  purchased  for  the  Church 
of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints, 
this  important  site.  It  was  with  joyful 
acclamations  that  the  announcement  of 
the  purchase  was  received  by  the  thou- 
sands of  Latter-day  Saints. 

Shortly  following  the  purchase  of  the 
property— a  description  of  which  is 
given  in  this  pamphlet— the  idea  was 
conceived  by  Elder  Wells  and  readily 
responded  to  by  the  authorities  of  the 
Church,  that  it  would  be  most  fitting 
to  erect  on,  or  near  the  site  of  the 
Prophet's  birth,  a  monument  to  his 
memory  and  honor,  to  be  dedicated  and 
unveiled  December  23,  1905,  the  centen- 
nial anniversary  of  his  birth.  The  im- 


portant work  of  designing  and  build- 
ing a  suitable  memorial  was  intrusted 
by  the  Presidency  to  the  capable  su- 
pervision of  Elder  Wells,  who  made 
his  residence  in  South  Royalton  where 
he  could  properly  conduct  the  work. 
The  construction  of  the  monument  was 
surrounded  by  innumerable  difficulties, 
many  of  which  appeared  insurmounta- 
ble; but  with  his  characteristic  faith 
and  perseverance,  and  aided  by  the 
providence  of  God,  Brother  Wells  suc- 
ceeded most  admirably,  far  beyond  the 
fondest  expectation  of  the  Saints. 

*By  the  8th  of  December,  after  these 
many  trials  and  difficulties  were  over- 
come, the  monument  of  polished  gran- 
ite, without  doubt  the  largest  of  the 
kind  in  the  world,  was  completed  with- 
out a  flaw  or  scratch  to  mar  its  beauty. 
It  rises  50  feet,  10  inches  and  weighs 
nearly  100  tons.  The  polished  shaft, 
typical  of  a  perfect  man,  is  38%  feet 
and  weighs  39  tons,  each  foot  corres- 
ponding to  one  year  of  the  Prophet's 
life. 

It  stands  on  the  high  rolling  hills 
of  historic  Vermont,  a  monumental 
testimony  to  the  world  of  the  inspira- 
tion of  the  youthful  Seer  of  latter 
days,  and  the  glorious  Gospel  through 
him  revealed  from  God  to  man.  Through 
its  silent  testimony  let  us  hope  that 
many  of  the  children  of  our  Father 
will  be  led  to  the  fulness  of  Truth  and 
to  praise  His  holy  name. 

Near  the  monument  on  the  exact  spot 
where  the  old  house  stood,  a  modern 
cottage,  plainly  yet  beautifully  fur- 
nished, has  been  built.  In  the  living 
room  of  this  new  cottage  the  hearth- 
stone of  the  old  Smith  home  still 
remains  in  its  natural  position  before 
the  fireplace,  marking  a  hallowed  spot. 


THE   MONUMENT  AS  THE   SHAFT  WAS  FINALLY  SET, 
DECEMBER   8,  1905. 


THE  CENTENNIAL  MEMORIAL  COMPANY. 


On  the  morning  of  Monday,  December 
18,  1905,  President  Joseph  F.  Smith  and 
party  set  out  from  Salt  Lake  City  in 
a  special  car  to  attend  the  dedicatory 
services  and  unveiling  of  the  beauti- 
ful monument  that  had  been  erected 
to  the  memory  of  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith.  The  personnel  of  the  party 
was  as  follows.  Presidents  Joseph  F. 
Smith  and  Anthon  H.  Lund  of  the 
First  Presidency;  President  Francis 
M.  Lyman  of  the  quorum  of  Apostles 
and  Elders  John  Henry  Smith,  Hyrum 
M.  Smith,  George  A.  Smith  and  Charles 
W.  Penrose  of  that  quorum;  Presiding 
Patriarch  John  Smith;  Elders  Seymour 
B.  Young  and  Rulon  S.  "Wells  of  the 
first  council  of  Seventy;  Patriarchs 
Lorin  Farr  and  Angus  M.  Cannon; 
Elders  Lewis  W.  Shurtliff,  President  of 
the  Weber  stake,  Frank  Y.  Taylor, 
President  of  the  Granite  stake,  Jesse 
M.  Smith  of  the  Davis  stake  presidency, 
and  George  F.  Richards  of  the  presi- 
dency of  the  Tooele  .stake;  Bishop 
George  Romney;  Elders  Elias  A.  Smith, 
John  McDtmald,  Brigham  F.  Grant, 
Arthiir  Winter,  Benjamin  Goddard, 
Ashby  Snow  and  Joseph  F.  Smith,  Jr.; 
Sisters  Susa  Y.  Gates,  Edith  A.  Smith, 
Julina  C.  Smith,  Ida  B.  Smith  and 
Alice  Richards  and  her  son  Oliver  L., 
aged  19  months,  a  total  of  thirty  souls. 
They  traveled  in  the  special  car 
"Sofala"  under  the  personal  direction 
of  Elder  George  A.  Smith,  who  very 
skillfully.and  in  his  gfenial  way, conduct- 
ed the  party  and  looked  after  all  details 
of  the  trip  to  the  satisfaction  and 
heartfelt  thanks  of  all  concerned.  The 
route  of  travel  was  over  the  Oregon 
Short  Line..  Union  Pacific,  Chicago  and 
Northwestern,  "Nickle  Plate,"  West 
Shore,  Boston  and  Maine  and  Central 
Vermont  railways  to  South  Royalton, 
Vermont,  the  point  nearest  the  monu- 
ment on  the  railroad.  The  company 
arrived  at  South  Royalton  Friday 


morning,  December  22nd,  after  a  most 
delightful  trip,  and  were  met  by  Elder 
Junius  F.  Wells,  who  had  made  all  ne- 
cessary arrangements  for  their  recep- 
tion and  accommodation.  The  weather 
was  extremely  mild  for  that  time  of 
the  year,  so  after  an  early  breakfast 
at  the  Woodward  hotel,  sleighs  were 
secured,  and  most  of  the  members  of 

the  party  rode  over  to  Tunbridge, 
Orange  county,  a  distance  of  about 
six  miles  from  Royalton,  where  the 

(Patriarch  Hyrum  Smith  was  bjorn. 
Here  President  Joseph  F.  Smith  and 
other  members  of  the  Smith  family  vis- 
ited the  town  clerk,  Miss  Chapman, 
who  received  them  very  cordially  and 
permitted  them  to  examine  the  old 
records  which  contained  a  great  deal 
of  information  pertaining  to  the  Smith 
family  history.  Records  of  deeds,  mar- 
riages and  births  were  readily  found 
from  notes  previously  culled  by  Elder 
Junius  F.  Wells.  The  marriage  of  Jos- 
eph Smith,  Sen.,  and  Lucy  Mack  was 
found  on  the  record,  also  the  births  of 
some  of  the  children  of  Jesse,  Asael  and 
Patriarch  Joseph  Smith;  among  them 
were  those  of  Alvin  and  of  the 
Patriarch  Hyrum  Smith,  his  sister 
Sophronia  and  cousins  Emily  and 
Jesse  J.  Smith.  The  farm  of 
Patriarch  Joseph  Smith  was  de- 
scribed as  lying  in  Tunbridge  Gore, 
near  the  Royalton  line,  but  lack  of 
time  prevented  the  discovery  of  the  ex- 
act location  of  this  spot.  Dinner  was 
served  at  the  Tunbridge  house,  by  Mr. 
Blake,  arid  after  a  short  visit  to  several 
homes  in  the  place,  the  party  return- 
ed to  South  Royalton  in  time  to  greet 
a  company  of  Saints  and  friends  from 
New  York  and  Boston,  who  had  just 
arrived  under  the  direction  of  President 
John  G.  McQuarrie  of  the  Eastern 
States  mission.  In  this  company  were 
the  following:  President  John  G.  and 
Maggie  S.  McQuarrie,  Hyrum  K.  Por- 


DEDICATION   OF 


ter,  secretary  of  the  Eastern  States 
mission;  Frederick  J.  Jackson,  Ferdi- 
nand F.  Hintze,  Joseph  J.  Larsen,  Hy- 
rum  Homer,  Murray  K.  Jacobs,  Henry 
Peterson,  Miss  Emma  Lucy  Gates.Cecil 
Gates,  Fred  J.  Pack,  Sadie  Grant  Pack 
and  child,  M.  S.  Gudmundsen,  Rob- 
ert C.  Easton,  Jenette  Y.  Easton,  Ores- 
tes U.  Bean,  Eva  Y.  Davis,  Fred  J. 
Clark  and  Miss  Ellen  Thomas. 

In  addition  to  the  above  there  were 
present  Junius  F.  Wells,  wife  and 
daughter  Abbie,  and  John  W.  Young, 
making  a  total  of  55  Utah  people 
present  at  the  dedication. 

In  the  evening  a  reception  and  con- 
cert were  given,  by  the  company  in  the 
hall  over  Woodard's  hotel,  which  had 
been  fittingly  decorated  and  tendered 
to  them  by  the  liberal  minded  citizens 
of  the  place,  who  sent  the  following  to 
Elder  Wells,  tendering  the  use  of  th& 
hall: 

In  regard  to  the  unveiling  of  the 
monument  -to  Joseph  Smith,  near  Roy- 
alton  line,  on  Dairy  Hill,  so-called,  on 
December  the  23rd,  A.  D.  1905.  And 
realizing  the  great  significance  of  this 
occasion  to  a  large  number  of  persons 
of  a  religious  faith  and  order  known 
as  the  Church  of  the  Latter-Day  Saints, 
of  Utah,  and  recognizing  the  right  of 
said  persons  to  worship  God  according 
to  the  dictates  of  their  own  conscience, 
and  because  of  the  inclement  season  of 
the  year  at  which  time  this  ceremony 
is  to  take  place,  and  because  it  is  ex- 
pected that  a  number  of  said  persons 
will  congregate  within  our  said  town  for 
said  occasion,  and  whereas  said  wor- 
shippers have  no  suitable  place  oa 
building  of  their  own  in  said  town,  in 
which  to  meet  for  social  or  religious 
purposes; 

Now  we,  the  undersigned  citizens  of 
Royalton,  in  the  county  of  Windsor  and 
State  of  Vermont,  do  hereby  respectful- 
ly tender  unto  said  Church  of  Latter- 
day  Saints  and  the  members  and  sup- 
porters thereof,  the  free  use  and  en- 
joyment of  the  hall  known  as  Wood- 
ard's Hall,  in  the  village  of  South 
Royalton,  in  our  said  town,  in  which 
to  hold  religious  and  social  services, 
and  meetings  during-  the  two  days  of 
December  the  23rd,  and  December  the 
24th,  A.  D.  1905. 

Witness  our  hands  at  Royalton  this 
9th  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1905. 
MARK  J.  SARGENT, 
CHARLES  E.  BLACK, 
P.  S.  BELNAP, 


E.    B.    DOYLE, 

S.  S.  BROOKS, 

H.    H.   WHITCOMB, 

W.  H.  HAZEN, 

MRS.  W.  H.   HAZEN,. 

DR.   E.   J.   FISH, 

MRS.  E.  J.  FISH, 

E.   S.   PARKHURST, 

E.   G.  FANEUF, 

W.   J.   SOPER, 

WILLIAM    SKINNER,. 

JOHN  A.  BUTTON, 

H.   C.   BENSON, 

GEORGE  ELLIS, 

J.   O.   BELNAP. 

J.  W.  WOODARD, 

J.  G.  ASHLEY, 

G.  H.  HACKETT, 

E.   H.  ASHLEY, 

A.  R.  FREEDERS, 

P.    A.   JEREL, 

O.  N.  STOUGHTON, 

MRS.  O.  N.  STOUGHTON, 

ARTHUR  N.  STOUGHTON. 

E.  W.  WINSLOW, 

E.  A.  GREEN, 

H.  G.  LOBDELL. 

A.  W.   PIERCE, 

P.  L.  CULVER, 

LEON  A.   SKINNER, 

CURTIS    TENNEY, 

ARTHUR  G.  WHITHAM, 

G.  H.  HEWITT, 

C.  H.  WOQDARD, 

J.   A.   WHITNEY, 

AMOS    EMERY, 

KITTLE  S.  BELKNAP, 

MRS.   M.   E.  BELKNAP. 

DENNISON  G.  WOODARD, 

The  hall  was  well  filled  with  the  peo- 
ple of  Royalton  and  surrounding  set- 
tlements, who  seemed  greatly  to  en- 
joy the  informal  but  interesting  pro- 
gram which  was  rendered.  Vermont 
being  located  in  the  Eastern  states  mis- 
sion, Elder  John  G.  McQuarrie  was  call- 
ed to  preside  at  the  entertainment, 
which  was  in  part  as  follows: 

Opening    Hymn    "America" 

Prayer Elder  Seymour  B.  Young. 

Singing  "We  Thank  Thee  O  Go*  For  a 
Prophet." 

Violin  Solo M.  O.  Gudmundsen. 

"Home  So  Blest"  ...  Robert  C.  Easton. 
Encore   "Annie   Laurie." 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


Short     Address     President     Joseph     F. 

Smith. 
"O    Dry    Those    Tears"    Emma    Lucy 

Gates. 

Encore  "Love  in  Springtime." 
This  was  followed  by  a  short  inter- 
mission to  allow  for  handshaking,  con- 
versation and  a  general  introduction, 
after  which  Robert  C.  Easton  sang)  the 
secred  hymn  "O  My  Father"  which 
brought  tears  to  many  eyes.  For  an 
encore  he  sang  "Loch  Lomond."  Elder 
John  Henry  Smith  then  delivered  a 
short  patriotic  address  which  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  singing  of  "O  Ye  Moun- 
tains High,"  by  Emma  Lucy  Gates,  as- 
sisted in  the  chorus  by  all  the  Saints 
present. 

During  the  afternoon  and  night  of 
the  22nd  a  thaw  having  set  in  the 
snow  rapidly  disappeared,  and  early 
the  following  morning  carriages  were 
provided  for  the  party  instead  of 
sleighs,  and,  after  a  short  delay  on  this 
account,  the  entire  party  was  conveyed 
up  hill  and  down  dale  about  three  miles 
and  a  half  to  the  site  of  the  monument, 
which  sands  800  feet  or  more  above 
South  Royalton  and  1350  feet  above  the 
sea.  The  nature  of  the  country 
over  which  they  passed  gave  them  some 
idea  of  the  apparently  insurmountable 
obstacles  to  the  hauling  of  the  massive 
granite  blocks  to  the  spot  for  their 
erection,  ^n  places  the  road  turned  so 
abruptly  and  was  so  steep  that  it  ap- 


peared almost  incredible  that  the  huge 
shaft  had  been  taken  over  that  road, 
but  the  uprooted  trees  and  newly  made 
furrows  along  the  road  gave  ample  evi- 
dence that  such  had  been  the  case. 

The  first  view  of  the  beautiful  shaft 
of  the  monument,  on  the  summit  of  a 
hill  close  to  the  cottage  erected  over 
and  around  the  hearthstone  of  the  old 
Smith  home,  caused  ejaculations  of 
astonishment  and  admiration  from  the 
approaching  Saints.  The  company  gath- 
ered in  the  cottage  and  while  a  gentle- 
snow  was  falling,  talked  with  Elder 
Wells,  congratulating  him  on  his  grand 
achievement,  and  in  turn,  learning  from 
him  many  of  the  particulars  of  the 
mighty  task.  Shortly  following  the 
arrival  of  the  Utah  party  and  the  visit- 
ing friends,  throngs  of  people  from  the 
farms  scattered  over  the  hillsides  and 
from  the  various  settlements,  com- 
menced to  arrive,  until  the  spacious 
cottage  wag  crowded  in  every  apart- 
ment and  many  gathered  around  the 
building  curiously  and  eagerly  wait- 
ing for  the  services  to  begin.  Promptly 
at  11  o'clock,  President  Joseph  F.  Smith, 
from  the  large  living  room,  called  the 
assembled  multitude  to  order,  while 
Elder  John  G.  McQuarie,  assisted  by  a 
number  of  Elders,  departed  from  the 
building  to  the  base  of  the  monument, 
where  fitting  services  were  held  in 
behalf  of  the  many  who  were  unable 
to  gain  admittance  to  the  cottage. 


PRESIDENT   JOSEPH   F.    SMITH. 


JOSEPH  SMITH  MONUMENT 

DEDICATION  EXERCISES. 


Sharon,  Windsor  County,  Vermont, 

Saturday,  December  23,    1905,   11,  a.m. 


Saturday,  December  23,  1905,  at  11 
a.  m. 

President  Joseph  F.  Smith  presided. 

The  meeting  was  opened  by  the  sing-- 
ing of  the  national  hymn,  "America." 

Prayer  was  offered  by  President  An- 
thou  H.  Lund. 

Singing:  "We  thank  Thee,  O  God,  for 
a  prophet." 

PRESIDENT  JOSEPH  F.   SMITH. 

Hon.  Junius  F.  Wells,  the  agent  of 
the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter- 
day  Saints  in  this  work,  will  speak  to 
us  first.  He  it  was  who  conceived  the 
idea  of  erecting  a  monument  on  the 
birthplace  of  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith.  He  presented  his  plans  to  the 
presiding  authorities  of  the  Church  a 
few  months  ago,  and  he  was  granted 
the  authority  and  means  at  his  com- 
mand, with  which  to  proceed  and  ac- 
complish the  herculean  task  which  he 
has  performed  here.  I  wish  to  say  that 
I  have  never  had  an  adequate  idea  of 
the  amount  of  work  and  the  number 
of  difficulties  that  he  has  had  to  con- 
tend with.  It  is  a  revelation  to  me. 
When  I  pass  over  the  roads  over  which 
he  has  brought  these  immense  blocks  of 
granite  successfully,  and  erected  them 
on  the  spot  where  they  are  destined  to 
remain  by  the  providence  of  God,  it  is 
something  marvelous  in  my  eyes.  I 
am  astonished  at  it.  We  will  now  have 


tho  honor  of  listening  to  Elder  Junius 
F.  Wells  give  a  brief  description  of  his 
great  undertaking. 

ELDER  JUNIUS  F.  WELLS. 

I  cannot  hope  to  make  myself  heard 
in  the  back  rooms  or  upstairs,  because 
you  are  so  thickly  packed  that  even  the 
sound  of  a  voice  cannot  get  beyond 
those  who  are  in  front.  What  I  shall  say 
will  be  quite  impromptu,  and  of  course 
it  will  be  inadequate  and  only  in  part 
teli  the  story.  My  heart  is  full  almost 
to  bursting  with  gratitude  to  the  Power 
that  I  have  recognized  all  along  as  aid- 
ing in  the  work  that  has  today  found 
its  successful  accomplishment.  At  the 
request  of  the  President,  it  will  give 
me  pleasure  if  I  can  but  recall  in  some 
sort  of  order  some  of  the  features  in- 
cident to  the  accomplishment  of  this 
task. 

It  was  in  1894  that  I  had  the  privil- 
ege of  visiting  this  spot  the  first  time, 
in  company  with  Spencer  Clawson,  and 
his  daughter  Clara — a  granddaughter 
of  President  Brigham  Young-.  We  were 
shown  about  by  Harvey  Smith.  I  want 
to  mention  his  name  once,  and  perhaps 
mere  times  than  that  before  I  get 
through.  He  was  the  first  who  testi- 
fied to  me  that  this  is  the  birthplace 
of  Joseph  Smith.  I  was  impressed  at 
that  time,  and  made  the  remark  as  we 
drove  away  that  some  time  we  ought  to 
mark  this  place  with  a  monument  of 


10 


DEDICATION  OF 


the  faith  of  our  people  in  Joseph  Smith 
the  Prophet.  That  thought  remained 
dormant  for  a  number  of  years;  but 
when  the  hundredth  anniversary  of  the 
birth  of  the  Prophet  approached,  it 
seamed  to  me  that  it  was  the  proper 
time  to  revive  it.  Anyway,  it  was  re- 
vived. On  the  28th  of  last  March,  hav- 
ing met  Mr.  Bowers  of  Montpelier,  in 
Boston  (who  was  engaged  in  preparing 
a  monument  for  my  father  in  Salt  Lake 
City),  I  mentioned  the  matter  to  him 
of  building  a  monument  here.  He  told 
me  then  of  the  Barre  granite  and  of  its 
fine  quality  and  of  its  proximity  to  this 
place.  He  thought  this  property  might 
be  secured  from  Mr.  Robinson,  who 
was  the  owner,  and  volunteered  to  as- 
sist me,  and  on  the  23rd  of  May  the 
purchase  was  perfected. 

I  submitted  a  report  to  the  Presi- 
dency of  the  Church,  outlining  the  sit- 
uation here,  and  suggesting  that  some- 
thing might  be  done,  but  that  it  would 
need  to  be  taken  hold  of  quickly  in  or- 
der to  accomplish  the  desires  of  our 
people  in  any  adequate  form  before  this 
historic  date.  It  was  some  time  before 
plans  could  be  fully  matured  and  pre- 
sented and  approved  by  them;  but  that 
was  finally  done.  The  month  of  May  I 
spent  in  looking  up  the  titles  and  get- 
ting some  further  testimony  in  rela- 
tion to  the  identification  of  the  Proph- 
et's birthplace.  In  that  connection  I 
wish  to  mention  Uncle  Ben  C.  Latham, 
who  has  given  so  much  information 
concerning  the  birthplace.  He  knows 
what  he  knows  just  as  well  as  any- 
body else  does  (laughter). 

I  also  met  Mrs.  Griffiths,  who  lived 
on  the  Dewey  farm.  She  remembered 
hearing  Ebenezer  Dewey  telling  in  her 
youth  that  this  was  where  Joseph 
Sr.iith  lived,  and  that  he  went  to 
school  with  some  of  the  Prophet's 
brothers  or  members  of  their  family. 
I  had  these  testimonies  together  with 
Harvey  Smith's  recorded,  identify- 
ing this  place  that  they  may  be  per- 
petuated forever. 

I  made  my  report  and  suggested  that 
we  mark  the  place  with  a  monument. 
That  was  acted  upon  in  July,  and  I 
was  given  a  carte  blanche  order  to 


do  it.  A  good  many  of  the 
neighbors  know  that  I  have  been  doing 
this.  They  have  seen  me  on  the  high- 
ways night  and  day,  in  order  to  bring 
it  about.  The  contract  for  the  build- 
ing of  the  monument  was  signed  on 
the  24th  of  July,  with  the  R.  C.  Bowers 
Co.  of  Montpelier.  The  same  day  in- 
struction was  given  to  get  out  the  stone 
it  the  Marr  &  Gordon,  Barre  quarry. 
The  dark  granite  is  in  boujder  forms, 
and  it  is  often  difficult  to  get  large 
dimensions.  I  went  up  to  the  quarry 
a  day  or  two  after  the  contract  was 
let,  and  watched  with  a  good  deal  of 
faithfulness  their  operations.  Some- 
times I  thought  I  was  in  the  work- 
men's way,  because  I  was  anxious  to 
see  that  we  got  the  right  stones  out  of 
the  quarry.  We  were  successful  in  get- 
ting !the  die  and  the  cap  out  of  one 
piece  of  granite.  Then  we  tried  for  the 
bases,  and  thought  we  had  them.  We 
got  the  nine-foot  base  all  right;  but 
when  we  came  to  remove  the  stone  that 
we  supposed  would  make  the  twelve- 
foot  base,  we  found  there  was  one  cor- 
ner cut  off.  That  was  a  disappoint- 
ment. Fortunately,  on  the  other  side 
of  the  quarry  there  was  another  bould- 
er discovered.  Mr.  Charles  Marr  was- 
looking  for  it  all  the  time,  and  Mr. 
Blakeney.  I  would  like  to  mention  the 
names  of  all  these  people.  Mr.  Blakeney 
was  the  foreman  there.  He  was  cer- 
tain he  had  it  in  this  other  place,  and 
it  turned  out  that  he  had.  But  the 
shaft— that  was  the  thing.  Where  to 
get  a  stone  that  would  measure  up  over 
thirty-eight  feet,  -from  which  to  get  a 
polished  shaft  typical  of  a  perfect  man. 
We  Latter-day  Saints  believe  that  Jo- 
seph Smith  came  to  be  as  nearly  a  per- 
fect man  as  ever  lived.  That  is  con- 
trary to  the  opinions  of  many  of  you; 
but  we  have  proved  our  faith  by  our 
works,  and  many  of  you  have  not  yet 
— very  much  (laughter.)  So  I  was  af- 
ter a  perfect  shaft,  a  stone  that  waa 
large  enough  to  measure,  when  it 
should  be  polished  up,  four  feet  at  the 
base  and  long  enough  to  measure  38*4 
feet,  a  foot  for  each  year  of  the  pro- 
phet's life.  The  first  place  Mr.  Blake- 
ney pointed  out  to  me,  I  had  not  a  bit 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


11 


of  confidence  in;  because  I  had  had 
some  experience  in  mining,and  thought 
there  was  a  cleavage  that  would  cut  it 
off.  That  proved  right.  He  felt  sure, 
if  we  removed  some  big  blocks  over 
and  beyond,  that  we  would  still  find  it 
there.  My  confidence  was  not  good 
there.  We  'tried  some  little  time,  and 
then  gave  up  and  concluded  to  go  on 
the  other  side  of  the  quarry,  where  we 
thought .  we  might  get  it.  That  was 
our  hope,  but  it  was  a  hopeless  hope 
to  me.  I  had  not  the  faith  in  me.  I 
had  not  the  impression.  I  have  been 
going  by  impressions  all  the  way 
through.  Somehow  when  I  had  the 
right  impression  it  has  come  out  all 
right.  I  will  relate  now  just  one  in- 
stance to  bring  in  the  names  of  some 
other  people. 

Two  days  before  we  discovered  the 
place  where  this  block  of  granite  that 
now  stands  at  the  top  of  this  monu- 
ment was  taken  from,  Messrs.  Boutwell, 
Milne  and  Varnum  bought  the  Marr 
&  Gordon  quarry  where  we  were  work- 
ing. Adjoining  it  was  their  own  quarry. 
In  it  was  a  stone  partly  disclosed,  that 
gave  some  promise  of  the  size  required, 
and  Mr.  Farnsworth  the  quarry  fore- 
man there,  said  within  a  week  he 
thought  he  could  tell  me.  I  believed 
at  once  we  were  on  the  right  track. 
I  followed  that  pretty  closely,  with  in- 
creasing confidence, and  the  second  day 
after  Mr.  Boutwell  actually  took  pos- 
session of  the  quarry,  they  broke  off 
the  top  covering  and  showed  up  a 
boulder  that  measured  forty-six  feet. 
"By  cutting'  down  both  sides  and  tak- 
ing off  the  top,  we  got  the  ends  a  little 
more  than  four  feet  square,  and  it  was 
long  enough  to  give  us  the  shaft.  That 
was  a  happy  day.  Then  the  raising  of 
that  out  of  the  quarry,  took  the  in- 
genuity of  Mr.  Boutwell  and  Mr.  Varn- 
um combined..  If  the  latter  had  not 
come  into  that  firm  a  few  months  be- 
fore we  might  not  have  got  it.  Mr. 
Varnum  was  a  railroad  builder,  and 
saw  that  he  could  build  a  temporary 
track  into  the  quarry,  and  by  that 
means  we  were  able  to  get  it  on  to  the 
cars,  but  it  took  two  days  to  load  it.  It 
weighed  nearly  sixty  tons  in  the  rough, 


and  the  derrick  there  would  not  lift 
it  except  one  end  at  a  time.  Then  we 
took  it  down  to  Mayor  Barclay's  cut- 
ting establishment  in  Barre,  six  miles 
away,  and  with  his  great  steam  cranes, 
with  a  two-inch  chain  around  one  end 
and  a  one  and  a  half  inch  chain  at  the 
other  he  lifted  it  off  the  cars,  switched 
it  around  endways,  and  let  it  down,  on- 
to the-  blocks  where  it  was  cut,  in  Just 
sixteen  minutes.  That  showed  the  dif- 
ference when  knowing  how  and  having 
the  mechanical  means  and  power  and 
in  not  having  it.The  stones  were  cut  and 
polished  with  remarkable  skill  and  ce- 
lerity. Yet  it  seemed  to  me  that  the 
twelve-foot  base  would  never  be  done. 
Winter  was  coming  on.  They  told  me 
that  winter  started  in  here  from  the 
time  they  began  to  make  cider  (laugh- 
ter), and  I  heard  that  last  year 
snow  fell  over  two  feet  deep  on  the 
13th  of  November  and  continued  on  to 
the  spring  equinox.  Uncle  Ed.  Green 
here,  who  drove  Mr.  Skinner's  oxen 
that  were  our  mainstay  in  steering  the 
wagon,  says  the  weather  of  one  month 
is  governed  altogether  by  that  of  the 
last  Friday  in  the  month  before  (laugh- 
ter). But  in  the  matter  of  weather 
we  have  bteen  wonderfully  favored. 
Everybody  calls  the  weather  we  have 
been  having  "Mr.  Wells'  weather." 
Tou  all  know  that.  It  has  been  provi- 
dential weather. 

Now,  we  got  these  stones  out;  we  got 
them  polished;  we  got  them  on  the  rail- 
road. Then  the  difficulty  just  com- 
menced. The  question  was,  how  to  get 
them  here.  While  some  people  had 
said  they  had  done  this  sort  of  thing, 
when  it  came  to  the  proving  of  it,  it 
never  had  been  done.  They  had  done 
it  in  a  small  way;  they  had  moved 
big  stones  short  distances,  and  had 
moved  large  stones  not  polished,  which 
did  not  have  to  be  handled  with  such 
care.  It  was  all  new  to  me.  I  had 
never  used  block  and  tackle.  We  had 
supposed  that  we  could  put  these  loads 
on  to  a  big  wagon  that  Mr.  Howland 
had  built,  owned  by  Jones  Brothers  ef 
Boston  and  Barre.  It  was  built  to 
remove  the  stones  of  St.  John's  cathe- 
dral at  Morningside  Park,  New  York. 


12 


DEDICATION  OF 


It  weighs  eight  tons,the  tires  are  twen- 
ty inches  wide,  and  the  axles  eight 
feet  long  and  eight  inches  in  diameter. 
He  said  that  on  the  level  twelve  horses 
would  walk  right  along  with  the  wagon 
fully  loaded;  and  that  we  should  use 
block  and  tackle  going  up  the  hill. 
When  we  got  to  the  loading  up  point, 
we  found  your  iron  bridge  at  South 
Royalton  was  not  strong  enough.  It  is 
nice  to  look  at,  but  not  any  good. for 
this  kind  of  a  load.  Rather  than  under- 
take to  strengthen  the  iron  bridge 
over  the  White  river,  we  de- 
cided to  go  up  to  the  first  station 
on  this  side  of  the  river,  nearly  three 
miles.  This  required  the  strengthening 
of  the  old  wooden  bridge  across  the 
Tunbridge  Branch.  It  proved  to  be 
quite  a  task.  The  stream  is  sixty  feet 
between  abutments  and  twenty  feet  be- 
low the  bridge  stringers.  We  put  in 
five  bents  of  10-inch  posts,  21  feet  long, 
four  to  each  bent.  The  caps  were  12- 
inch  timbers,  and  the  stringers  a  foot 
square  and  thirty  feet  long.  Six  of 
them  we  borrowed  from  the  Wells 
River  Railway,  after  skirmishing 
•all  over  the  state  to  get  them.  This  v>  as 
through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Stanyan. 
When  we  came  to  set  these  posts  it  was 
found  that  the  bottom  was  quicksand. 
I  thrust  a  pole  into  it.  It  went  dow?i 
over  four  feet  and  my  heart  with  It. 
Fortunately  we  found  some  planks  that 
came  out  of  the  old  river  bridge,  which 
were  fourteen  inches  wide,  five  inches 
thick  and  twenty  feet  long.  Of  these  we 
made  mudsills  to  rest  our  posts  on  and 
they  held  up  the  bridge.  After  the  first 
load  it  never  sagged  a  half  inch.  "But 
•we  were  anxious  until  it  was  proved. 
So  we  had  to  go  up  to  Royalton  Village, 
to  unload.  We  found  that  there  was 
not  room  in  the  railway  yard  to  turn 
out  on  to  the  highway  without  putting 
in  a  special  side  track.  This  was  au- 
thorized by  Mr.  Mulliris,  the  superin- 
tendent. 

The  first  load  included  the  12-foot 
square  stone.  That  was  three  feet  larg- 
er than  the  railway  usually  carries  flat. 
We  had  not  the  means  to  unload  it  if  it 
•came  down  on  the  edge;  it  would  re- 
quire a  derrick;  so  we  had  to  get  a  spe- 
cial permit  for  it  to  come  down  flat,  in 


fact,  to  hire  a  special  train,  and  Mr. 
Keefe,  the  chief  roadmaster  of  the  Cen- 
tral Vermont  Railroad,  came  himself 
and  brought  it  down  one  day  shortly 
after  daylight.  Mr.  James  F.  McNeil, 
who  came  from  Syracuse,  New  York, 
to  assist  in  the  overland  transportation, 
undertook  to  unload  it.  It  seemed  a 
very  tedious  and  long  process.  There 
•were  the  two  bases  weighing  over  30 
tons.  The  boys  who  were  helping  were 
all  green  at  the  business,  never  had 
handled  such  big  stones,  and  they  did 
not  know  very  much  about  it.  So  the 
first  load  was  very  difficult  to  get  on  to 
the  wagon,  but  it  was  done.  Mr.  Ellis, 
of  the  Bethel  quarries,  was  kind  enough 
(it  was  a  kindness  that  I  little  antici- 
pated, but  much  appreciated)  to  send 
down  twenty  of  his  most  magnificent 
horses  to  help  us  draw  that  first  load 
along  the  highway.  It  was  late  in  the 
day  when  we  were  ready  to  start,  get- 
ting towards  dusk.  We  were  able  to  go 
down  on  planks  from  the  sidetrack  to 
the  highway;  then  the  pull  began,  and 
when  we  started  to  move  on  a  slight 
rise,  the  horses  stopped.  We  tried  three 
times  before  we  gave  up,  but  they  could 
not  ircve  that  wagon  a  quarter  cf  an 
inch.  I  felt  rather  discouraged  then, 
because  they  said  twelve  would  do  it 
a.nd  I  had  twenty;  in  fact,  we  picked 
up  another  team  there,  so  we  had 
twenty-two  altogether,  but  ttiey  did  not 
move  it.  I  felt  almost  like  telegraph- 
ing to  the  President  of  the  Church, 
asking  permission  to  put  the  monu- 
ment en  the  railroad  and  have  it  sent  to 
Salt  Lake  City  and  put  up  there  in  the 
Temple  block,  and  to  put  something  osle 
not  so  heavy  here.  Indeed  I  went  so  far 
as  to  write  a  telegram  to  that  effect, 
but  I  did  not  send  it.  It  was  Saturday 
night  ,and  it  was  the  nearest  point  in 
connection  with  this  work  to  my  being 
discouraged; but  I  thought  I  would  wait 
over  Sunday,  and  see  what  Monday 
morning1  would  bring  forth.  We  triod 
again  on  Monday,  in  another  way,  us- 
ing block  and  tackle,  and  we  drew  the 
load  nineteen  hundred  and  sixty  feet 
that  day.  Our  tackle  permitted  a  pull 
of  eighty  feet  between  blocks,  but  I 
have  seen  them  stop  thirteen  times  go- 
ing that  distance,  on  account  of  curves 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


in  the  road  and  the  trouble  in  laying 
planks.  We  found  the  roads  were  so 
soft  that  they  would  not  support  thoj 
great  weight,  though  we  had  twenty- 
inch  tires.  So  we  had  to  resort  to  planks. 
We  plonked  the  road  from  Royalton  all 
the  waj  up  this  hill,  nearly  six  miles  - 
the  last  two  miles  from  the  river  rising 
eight  hundred  feet.  We  used  three-inch 
hordwcort  planks,  ten  inches  wide,  two 
under  each  wheel.  They  had  to-  be 
placed  under  the  wheels  as  we  moved 
along,  and  when  we  had  that  great  base 
reaching  two  feet  on  each  side  over  the 
wagon,  the  boys  got  down  on  their 
hands  arc"  knees  to  do  it.  It  was  slow 
•work,  and  those  were  anxious  days,  es- 
pecially when  once  in  a  while  a  wheel 
would  go  down.  It  took  a  long  time  to 
jack  it  up  and  go  on.  But  we  kept 
going  and  in  thirteen  days  from  the 
time  we  started  we  had  it  up  on  the 
hill  (that  was  a  triumph  for  Captain 
McNeil,)  and  started  back  for  the  sec- 
ond load.  This  was  the  inscription  die. 
It  is  a  cube  six  feet  square,  weighing 
nearly  twenty  tons.  One  day  with  this 
load  the  wagon  happened  to  get  off 
the  track  at  a  soft  point  in  the  highway 
near  the  river  bank.  One  wheel  went 
down  nearly  a  foot.  We  got  out  a  guy- 
rope  and  as  it  hapened  I  had  requested 
the  stone  cutters  to  leave  the  Lewis 
iron  in  the  top.  We  quickly  fixed  it 
through  that  to  the  trees  on  the  bank, 
and  held  the  load  there  until  we  could 
get  it  up  again  on  the  planks.  We  were 
on  the  edge  of  a  sheer  cliff  twenty  feet 
to  the  river.  When  we  came  down  to 
the  bridge  over  the  Tunbridge  Branch 
we  were  confronted  with  another  diffi- 
ulty.  We  had  a  load  that  measured 
twelve  feet  two  inches  from  the  ground 
up  and  we  had  a  covered  bridge  to  go 
through  that  measured  only  eleven 
feet  four  inches.  But  by  that  time  we 
required  the  big  wagon  back  at  the 
railway  siding  to  haul  the  shaft,  so  we 
unloaded  the  die  on  blocks  by  the  road- 
side and  waited  for  Mr.  H.  C.  Leonard 
to  come  down  from  Barre  with  a  spe- 
cially made  wagon  that  was  rigged  low. 
and  that  would  pass  through  the 
bridge.  That  wagon  had  tires  twelve 
inches  wide.  It  was  made  very  strong 


and  he  brought  some  of  his  big  horses 
to  help  draw  it,  and  took  charge  of  the 
die  from  the  time  it  started  across  the 
bridge,  and  he  brought  it  up  here  suc- 
cessfully, though  there  was  one  anxious 
time  in  that.  He  got  off  the  road  also, 
and  a  wheel  went  down,  and  it  tilted 
the  load  over.  If  it  had  been  on  a 
high  wagon  it  would  have  gone  clear 
over  and  would  have  defaced  the  in- 
scription. This  load  was  twenty  days 
on  the  road. 

We  learned  as  we  went  along.  When 
we  got  to  the  foot  of  the  hill  with  the 
first  load,  who  knew  whether  it  could 
go  up  that  hill  or  not?  Some  people  said 
it  could,  but  the  wagon  it  was  on  had 
orly  gene  over  paved  streets  before, 
and  had  been  fastened  to  big  buildings 
and  what  are  called  "dead  men,"  while 
we  were  trusting  to  the  trees  of  Royal- 
ton,  some  of  which  have  good  roots, 
and  others  are  like  some  of  the  people — 
they  are  built  on  the  sand.  So  you  see, 
as  a  result  of  our  work  the  road  is 
strewn  with  trees,  some  large  ones, 
that  were  pulled  up  by  the  roots. 
We,  however,  got  the  monument  here, 
and  then  there  was  a  triumph  of  engi- 
neering skill  in  raising  it.  Mr.  How- 
land  is  the  best  monument  setter,  I 
believe,  there  is  in  the  world;  certainly 
the  best  one  ever  in  Royalton;  for  he 
raised  these  stones  and  set  them  in 
place  without  a  scratch.  They  are- 
not  marred  at  all.  They  have  been 
handled  successfully,  by  wisdom  and 
patience  in  preparation.  It  has  all 
been  in  preparation.  It  was  not  so 
much  to  do  the  thing1  itself,-  as  it  was 
in  preparing  for  it.  But  that  has 
been  done,  and  today  we  see  the  grati- 
fying result. 

In  brief,  that  is  the  history  of  the 
erection  of  the  monument.  There  have 
been  some  things  that  I  would  like  to 
allude  to,  that  have  been  of  great  in- 
terest to  me.  First  of  all,  the  senti- 
ment of  the  people.  The  people  here, 
T  think,  in  the  first  place,  did  not  know 
quite  what  to  make  of  it.  They  did' 
not  suppose  it  wras  a  great  matter  any- 
way. Then,  as  it  dawned  upon  them, 
there  were  all  sorts  of  emotions  ex- 
cited; but  in  the  main  there  has  been, 
an  undercurrent  of  genuine  interest; 


14 


DEDICATION  OP 


and  when  they  have  seen  that  there  has 
been  honest  endeavor,  doing  something 
out  of  the  ordinary,  they  have  come 
to  wonder,  and  I  believe  I  am  not  say- 
ing too  much  when  I  say  that  they 
Jiave  come  to  admire  and  to  praise. 
Anyway,  I  greatly  mistake  the  senti- 
ment of  the  principal  people  of  the 
towns  in  this  neighborhood,  if  it  is  not 
favorable  to  this  enterprise,  and  grati- 
fying to  them  that  something  as  ^rreat 
as  this  has  been  achieved.  •  I  think  I 
am  safe  in  saying  that. 

While  examining  the  titles,  I  met 
Messrs.  Tarbell  &  Whitham,  who  gave 
me  very  valuable  assistance  in  looking 
up  the  titles.  I  secured  the  friendship 
of  Postmaster  Belknap  and  his  sons,  of 
Mr.  Sargent,  Mr.  Hazen,  Mr.  Stough- 
ton,  Dr.  Fish,  Mr.  Woodard  and  Soper. 
All  these  and  others  helped  and  en- 
couraged me,  also  the  town  authori- 
ties, Messrs.  Skinner  and  Parkhurst, 
town  clerks,  and  the  selectmen.  Mr. 
Doyle,  first  selectman  of  Royalton,  has 
been  particularly  nice  to  me  in  helping 
in  the  matter  of  our  transportation. 
There  is  nothing  Mr.  Doyle  would  nqjt 
have  done.  Mr.  Button,  the  road  su- 
pervisor, has  helped.  He  fixed  the 
mud  hole  at  the  foot  of  Haines'  hill, 
and  it  was  quite  a  sacrifice  to  town 
pride  to  do  that.  He  said,  "Well,  but,Mr. 
Wells,  it  has  always  been  a  mud  hole." 
•Of  course,  I  told  him,  I  did  not  want 
to  break  up  a  venerated  town  institu- 
tion like  that,  but  if  he  would  fix  it 
long  enough  to  get  over,  I  would  help 
him. 

We  Latter-day  Saints  are  believers  in 
Providence;  not  only  believers  in  what 
Mr.  Boutwell  calls  "Mormon"  luck,  but 
in  Providence.  Even  in  the  matter  of 
weather,  we  feel  so.  The  day  before 
we  had  to  cross  Mr.  Button's  mud  hole, 
it  rained.  There  was  an  empty  hay 
press  tried  to  go  through  it,  and  the 
wheels  went  out  of  sight.  It  took  four 
horses  to  get  it  out.  Next,  it  com- 
menced to  snow,  but  the  thermometer 
dropped  in  three  and  a  half  hours.  35 
degrees,  and  the  north  wind  blew  the 
:storm  down  to  the  sea.  We  had  ar- 
ranged to  have  nine  inches  thickness 
•of  plank  at  that  mud  hole,  if  necessary, 


to  get  over.  As  it  happened,  we  only 
needed  three,  for  when  the  wagon  went 
over  it  the  next  morning  the  ground 
was  frozen  so  hard  that  it  split  the 
planks  into  kindling  wood,  and  the 
weather  has  not  been  so  cold  since.  I 
called  that  Providence.  I  asked  a  man 
who  was  riding  with  me,  one  who  does 
not  believe  much  in  anything,  if  it  was 
so  hard  to  believe  in  Providence  now. 
"Well,"  said  he,  "I  almost  believe  it." 
That  is  the  nearest  to  a  convert  I  have 
made  here.  (Laughter.)  There  have 
been  some  who  felt  that  ordinarily  we 
would  be  blocked  by  the  storms  of  win- 
ter. Well,  where  has  winter  been  while 
we  have  been  running  this  race  with 
it?  It  has  been  out  of  our  way  and 
we  have  beaten  it. 

1  I  should  like  to  mention  the  assist- 
ance of  Mr.  E.  B.  Ellis,  of  Bethel,  who 
came  down  to  draw  the  capstone.  There 
was  an  incident  in  the  drawing  of  that 
capstone  that  was  very  impressive — an- 
other instance  of  Providence.  When 
we  were  going  up  the  Burbank  Hill 
(you  know  what  a  hard  place  that  is), 
our  first  load  went  down  through  two 
thickness  of  three-inch  plank.  There 
was  no  bottom  to  the  ground,  the  soJl 
being  treacherous  and  porous.  I  did 
not  know  what  we  should  do.  We  had 
a  ten-ton  load — the  baby  stone — and 
we  had  it  on  an  ordinary  six-inch  tire 
quarry  wagon.  We  had  seven  pairs  of 
horses  that  came  through  Mr.  Ellis' 
kindness,  and  we  added  two  other 
pairs,  so  we  had  eighteen  horses  going 
up  that  hill.  Mr.  Davis,  the  foreman, 
said  to  me:  "If  I  can  put  on  the  nine 
pairs  and  we  can  start  from  the  bot- 
tom and  go  right  to  the  top  without 
stopping,  we  can  make  it;  but  if  we 
stop,  I  am  afraid  we  will  have  to 
camp."  He  had  two  pairs  of  these 
horses  on  behind  with  a  battering  ram, 
and  the  way  that  ram  was  fixed  by 
chains  to  the  running  gear  was  an- 
other triumph  of  mechanical  skill,  and 
Mr.  Davis  knows  how  to  do  such  things. 
We  were  to  hold  those  four  horses  for 
the  last  push  to  get  over  the  water 
bar  where  we  would  be  safe.  The  seven 
pairs  ahead  drew  the  greater  distance, 
and  we  all  went  along  by  the  side 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


15 


of  these  horses,  cheering  them.  The  last 
four  horses  fell  to  my  lot  to  help  on  a 
little.  I  walked  by  the  side  of  those 
chestnut  horses,  cheering  them,  and  we 
were  all  yelling-.  You  may  think  it  a 
strange  thing  for  a  man  to  say,  but  I 
had  the  most  singular  feeling  come  over 
me  at  the  way  the  near  horse  acted. 
He  did  not  simply  get  down  to  an  ordi- 
nary pull  at  the  last;  he  seemed  to  be 
inspired.  That  horse  went  at  it  with 
his  nostrils  wide  distended  and  his  eyes 
bulging  from  his  head,  and  he  simply 
plowed  his  way,  as  though  he  had  to 
lift  that  load  up  the  hill,  and  he  did 
it.  I  just  believe  that  there  was  a  lit- 
tle inspiration  in  it.  That  was  our 
last  stone,  and  it  was  brought  up  in 
six  hours  from  the  railroad  station. 

Then  came  Mr.  Rowland's  work  of 
setting  the  monument.  The  rigging 
he  expected  was  ten  days  overdue  be- 
fore it  came.  Those  were  anxious 
days.  It  started  from  West  Browns- 
ville in  Pennsylvania,  fifty  miles  be- 
yond. Pittsburg.  We  could  not  get  any 
track  of  it.  Finally,  Mr.  Mullins,  of  the 
Central  Vermont  railroad,  said  he 
would  try  to  trace  it  for  us.  I  com- 
municated with  the  officers  of  the 
Pennsylvania  road  and  got  them  to 
trace  it.  It  finally  got  here,  when  we 
actually  had  to  have  it,  but  not  a  day 
too  soon.  Mr.  Howland  in  his  slow, 
sure  process  of  arranging  things,  fin- 
ally had  the  big  legs  of  the  derrick 
erected,  the  crossbar  and  blocks  all 
ready,  and  his  windlasses  anchored. 
We  thought  we  were  going  to  have  the 
last,  stone  set  on  the  5th  of  Decem- 
ber. On  the  23rd  of  the  previous 
month  I  had  written  to  the  President 
that  I  thought  we  would  have' it  up  on 
the  5th.  But  the  5th  had  come  and 
gone,  and  then  I  told  Mr.  Howland  it 
was  getting  to  be  a  question  of  time 
now;  my  people  had  to  arrange  to 
come  here  for  the  dedication,  it  was 
2,500  miles  away,  and  we  wanted  some 
time  in  which  to  arrange  exercises.  He 
was  not  satisfied  with  one  staple  nor 
the  blocks,  and  said  he  thought  he  had 
better  go  up  to  Barre  and  get  some 
other  blocks,  for  when  he  came  to 
measure  he  found  that  with  those  he 


had  In,  the  stone  would  not  swing  into 
its  place.  It  would  lack  about  three 
inches.  I  was  disappointed.  He  went 
up  to  Barre  that  night.  I  kept  the 
blacksmiths  waiting  for  him  to  nx  one 
of  the  staples  and  the  blocks,  and  he 
came  back  the  next  day,  and  as  you 
know,  on  Friday,  the  8th  day  of  De- 
cember, the  great  shaft  was  raised  to 
its  place. 

It  is  the  largest  polished  shaft  that 
we  know  anything  of  in  America,  and 
perhaps  in  the  world.  Mr.  Boutwell 
and  I  went  through  his  encyclopedias 
one  day,  and  we  could  not  find  any- 
thing to  equal  it.  The  great  obelisks 
are  larger  stones  than  this,  but  they 
are  not  polished,  and  they  are  of  carv- 
ed syenite.  This  was  a  smooth,  pol- 
ished surface,  and  to  grip  that  near  the 
smaller  end  and  lift  it  up  in  its  place 
required  knowledge,  skill,  courage  and 
ability,  and  all  these  qualities  Mr. 
Howland  possesses.  It  is  a  great  tri- 
umph for  him,  and  to  all  who  have 
had  anything  to  do  with  it. 

This  has  been  a  work  of  great  com- 
fort and  delight  to  me,  although  I 
have  had  anxious  moments.  I  would 
like  to  have  had  this  cottage  finished. 
It  should  have  been  finished,  according 
to  the  contract,  on  the  first  of  Decem- 
ber, but  Mr.  Perkins,  the  contractor, 
and  Mr.  Walker  the  architect,  have 
had  many  disappointments  and  de- 
lays. When  it  is  finished  it  will  be  a 
nice,  comfortable  place,  where  we  can 
welcome  people  who  desire  to  ask  the 
question,  Why  is  this  monument  here? 
Who  are  the  people  that  have  done 
this?  It  is  the  purpose,  I  believe,  to 
have  somebody  here  to  answer  ques- 
tions of  this  kind. 

Now,  as  to  this  house.  It  is  built 
over  the  old  cellar.  The  hearthstone 
is  right  where  it  was.  That  mantel 
has  been  built  around  it.  The  senti- 
mental reason  of  it  is  this:  Joseph 
Smith  was  only  three  years  old  when 
his  parents  moved;  so  if  he  had  any 
association  with  that  hearthstone,  it 
was  as  a  child.  I  thought  perhaps  it 
was  where  he  was  washed  and  dressed 
as  a  babe.  This  is  a  beautiful  place, 
a  park,  a  delightful  place  to  come  to 


16 


DEDICATION   OP 


in  the  summer  time.  It  is  high,  the 
air  is  good,  and  it  is  a  lovely  spot. 

Now,  my  friends,  I  am  about 
through  with  my  work  here.  I  want 
to  thank  the  people  of  Royalton,  Shar- 
on and  Tunbridge,  the  people  of  Barre 
and  Montpelier,  the  railroad  people, 
Messrs.  Gallaher,  Wynn  and  Bohon- 
non,  and  those  who  have  opened  their 
houses,  and  all  the  neighbors  here 
would  open  their  houses  to  feed  our 
men  in  order  to  save  time.  It  has 
been  courtesy  and  kindness  all  along. 
I  have  not  a  word  of  complaint  to 
make.  I  know  pretty  nearly  all  the 
children;  anyway,  they  all  know  me, 
and  many  of  the  people  along  the  road 
know  me,  too.  They  have  all  been 
kind  and  dear  to  me.  My  association 
with  you  has  been  one  of  delight.  I 
want  to  express  my  thanks  and  grati- 
tude to  you  in  public  today.  More- 
over, I  wish  to  express  my  thanks  and 
gratitude  to  my  people,  to  the  Presi- 
dency of  the  Church,  for  the  confi- 
dence they  have  shown  in  me,  for  the 
trust  they  have  reposed  in  me.  I  am 
afraid  they  will  think  I  have  spent  a 
lot  of  money;  but  it  is  not  the  big  ex- 
pensive thing  that  some  have  imag- 
ined. One  man  wrote  from  Chicago 
that  the  shaft  weighed  400  tons  and 
cost  $1,000,000,  and  he  supposed  Mr. 
Wells  would  think  it  weighed  1,000,000 
tons  by  the  time  he  got  it  on  top  of 
the  hill,  if  he  ever  did.  This  whole 
enterprise  will  cost  somewhere  be- 
tween $25,000  and  $30,000  by  the  time 
it  is  completed.  Still  we  think  it  is 
well  spent,  in  honor  of  the  man  who 
was  the  founder,  under  the  Almighty, 
of  our  religion.  The  Mormon  people 
are  thrifty;  they  are  not  rich,  but  they 
are  independent;  they  pay  their  own 
way.  A  great  many  of  you  have  heard 
me  say  that  the  Mormon  creed  is 
"Mind  your  own  business."  You  will 
find  it  worked  in  mottos  and  hung  up 
in  hundreds,  if  not  thousands,  of  homes 
of  the  Latter-day  Saints;  and  we  think 
it  is  a  pretty  good  motto. 

My  own  feeling  will  not  be  properly 
expressed  until  I  say  this:  Before 
these  services  are  all  through  you  will 
hear  from  those  who  have  the  right 


to  speak  by  authority,  but  I  wish  to- 
say  that  it  is  not  only  the  Latter-day 
Saints  who  are  interested  in  this  monu- 
ment, but  the  people  of  this  neighbor- 
hood should  be.  You  need  not  be 
afraid  to  do  a  little  honor  to  Joseph 
Smith.  His  ancestors  were  your  an- 
cestors. His  ancestral  family  were  as- 
sociates of  yours,  two  or  three  genera- 
tions back.  I  could  name  the  names 
of  his  neighbors,  and  they  were  just 
the  same  sort  of  people.  I  have  been 
asked,  "What  is  the  difference  between 
you  Mormons  and  the  rest  of  man- 
kind?" Well,  said  I,  we  have  tried  to 
gather  as  good  as  we  could  from 
among  you,  and  add  a  little  something 
to  it.  That  is  the  only  difference  I  am 
able  to  discover.  What  we  have  added 
has  been  this:  We  have  taken  people 
from  all  over  this  world,  who  were 
not  content  with  conditions  that  ob- 
tained among  them,  whether  spiritual 
or  temporal;  they  have  accepted  our 
testimony,  and  the  result  has  been,, 
they  have  moved  away  from  their  old 
traditions  and  conditions  of  life,  have 
joined  their  lot  with  us,  and  have  pro- 
gressed a  little,  become  a  little  more 
independent,  and  obtained  better  con- 
ditions. They  are  a  very  happy  peo- 
ple, because  the  question  of  religion 
is  settled  in  their  minds.  There  is  no 
longer  any  room  for  doubt.  You 
never  saw  a  Mormon  in  good  standing 
that  had  the  slightest  doubt  or  ap- 
prehension concerning  the  future.  He 
is  just  as  certain  that  he  will  be  saved, 
if  he  lives  his  religion,  as  he  is  that 
he  is  alive. 

My  friends,  I  am  not  here  to  preach 
Mormonism,  nor  to  try  to  make  con- 
verts; but  I  am  here  to  tell  you  that 
we  think  you  ought  to  take  some  pride 
in  this  monument.  You  ought  to  feel 
that  it  is  a  good  thing;  that  it  will  add 
lustre  and  glory  to  your  town  and 
your  neighborhood,  and  that  it  will  bo, 
a  source  of  pleasure  to  you,  as  it  will 
be '  a  source  of  delight  and  pleasure 
to  thousands,  perhaps  tens  of  thou- 
sands who  will  come  to  see  it  and 
wonder  at  it. 

In  conclusion,  I  wish  to  say  that  as 
you  have  welcomed  me  and  treated  me 


JUNIUS   F.    WELLS,    DESIGNER    OF  THE  MONUMENT. 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


17 


well,  come  to  our  country  and  we  will 
treat  you  just  as  well.  We  will  be 
glad  to  see  you.  I  can  say  this  much 
from  my  heart.  With  these  words  I 
will  conclude,  and  thank  you  for  your 
attention. 

Solo  by  Robert  C.  Easton,  "The 
Guiding  Star,"  composed  by  F.  Dewey 
Richards. 

PRESIDENT   FRANCIS   M.   LYMAN. 

I  regret  exceedingly,  my  dear  breth- 
ren and  sisters  of  Vermont  (for  we  are 
all  of  Vermont),  that  we  have  not  room 
to"  make  all  more  comfortable  on  this 
occasion.  I  am  sorry  that  our  friends 
on  the  outside  are  suffering  with  the 
cold;  but  our  services  will  necessarily 
be  brief. 

I  have  listened  with  deep  interest  to 
the  n-iuarks  of  Elder  Wells,  and  have  . 
enjoyed  very  much  what  he  has  ac- 
complished here.  But  he  could  not 
have  done  it  without  you.  He  could 
not  bavi  made  this  monument  if  it  had 
not  been  for  Vermonters,  for  Vermont 
stone,  roads,  railroads  and  horses,  and 
for  Vermont  skilled  men  and  workers. 
We  are  intensely  interested  in  Vermont 
We  are  descended  of  stock  from  New 
England— from  Massachusetts,  New 
Hampshire.Rhode  Island  and  Vermont 
and  from  everywhere  else.  So  we  are 
interested  in  other  countries  as  well  as 
Vermont.  But  quite  a  number  of  the 
most  prominent  and  influential  men 
among  the  Latter-day  Saints  were  from 
this  part  of  the  land.  They  were  the 
pilgrim  fathers  No.  2.  They  were  the 
sons  of  pilgrims,  and  they  were  our 
pilgrim  fathers.  They  blazed  the  way, 
killed  the  snakes,  built  the  bridges,  and 
led  the  way  to  the  west.  And  now  we 
come  back.  The  west  and  the  east 
meet  here  on  this  blessed  occasion.  We 
thank  the  Lord,  and  we  thank  Ver- 
mont for  what  she  has  done  in  these 
mountains.  I  was  in  Vermont  forty- 
five  years  ago,  with  iriy  father,  who 
was  born  just  over  in  New  Hampshire. 
We  found  some  of  our  kindred  in  Ver- 
mont, and  visited  a  little.  Since  then 
I  have  not  been  in  Vermont  until  now. 
But  we  want  your  friendship;  and  you 
havo  ours.  You  have  your  faiths,  and 


wo  have  ours;  and  our  faith  is  as 
friendly  and  generous  as  any  in  the 
world.  We  feel  that  spirit  of  liberty 
which,  I  am  sure,  the  people  of  Ver- 
mont enjoy,  and  I  trust  will  ever  per- 
petuate. When  Brother  Wells  told  us 
what  you  had  done  and  the  kindness  he 
had  met  with  on  every  hand,  I  sug- 
gested to  him  that  we  will  get  even 
with  you  if  you  will  come  out  where  we 
live?.  We  will  give  you  just  as  warm  a 
welcome;  we  will  help  you  fix  the 
roads,  build  the  monuments,  and  also 
the  cnurches  if  y»u  want  them;  we 
will  share  with  you  and  give  you  the 
right  hand  of  fellowship  in  all  enter- 
prises and  movements  for  the  advance- 
ment and  enlightenment  of  mankind. 

And  you  will  find  that  this  enterprise 
here  will  bring  into  your  neighborhood 
people  from  every  land  and  from  every 
section  of  this  land.  It  will  be  a  re- 
markable point,  and  be  emphasized  by 
tha  coming  of  people  from  all  direc- 
tions, more  and  more  every  year;  and 
this  spot  will  become  more  sacred  than 
it  is  today.  Hence  we  invite  you  to 
join  with  us  and  be  friendly.  Come 
and  see  us,  and  our  pulpits  will  be  open 
to  your  reputable  ministers,  and  you 
shall  be  made  welcome.  We  shall  b° 
glad  to  see  you,and  you  will  find  a  gen- 
erous, broadminded  people,  who  have 
come  from  almost  every  country,  and 
who  are  intensely  interested  in  the 
welfare  of  mankind.  You  will  find  a 
people  who  delight  to  be  abreast  of  the 
people  of  the  earth  in  education,  in  in- 
dustry, in  the  observance  of  the  Sab- 
bath day,  and  in  the  worship  of  the 
Lord.  We  are  all  Christians,  and  we 
want  to  be  saved.  We  want  you  to  be 
saved  also.  We  want  everybody  to  be 
happy,  and  we  labor  to  that  end,  and 
try  to  make  everybody  happy.  We  ap- 
preciate the  welcome  you  h'ave  extend- 
ed to  our  Brother  Wells,  the  assistance 
you  have  rendered  him  in  erecting  a 
monument  here,  the  road  that  has  been 
opened,  and  the  way  that  has  been  pre- 
pared for  pilgrimages  to  this  place. 
And  this  is  only  a  little  pilgrimage  that 
is  made  for  the  dedication.  You  will 
find  that  travel  will  increase  over  this 
road,  and  it  will  become  one  of  the  most 
famous  spots  in  Vermont  or  any  other 


18 


DEDICATION  OF 


section  of  the  United  States  after 
awhile.  I  have  no  doubt  that  some 
day  you  will  appreciate  this  fact. 

When  I  heard  my  brother  speak  of 
•what  could  be  done  on  level  ground,  I 
wondered  if  it  had  ever  been  proved  in 
Vermont.  Where  do  you  find  any  level 
ground?  It  seems  to  me  it  is  moun- 
tains everywhere.  We  ourselves  live 
in  the  mountains,  and  it  is  similar  with 
us,  only  our  valleys  are  a  little  longer 
and  wider  and  a  little  bit  dryer  than 
yours.  We  traveled  about  as  far  west 
as  we  could  get,  and  we  found  a  coun- 
try that  vouchsafed  to  us  the  liberty 
that  Massachusetts,  New  Hampshire, 
Rhode  Island  and  Vermont  vouchsafed 
to  our  forefathers,  even  religious  lib- 
erty. For  that  we  went  west.  For  that 
your  fathers  and  our  fathers  came 
west.  They  came  from  the  east,  and 
were  the  pioneers  in  this  part  of  the 
country.  They  mastered  the  forests 
and  cultivated  the  hills  and  the  valleys; 
they  subdued  the  land,  and  made  it  de- 
sirable. The  elements  are  in  the  earth. 
When  you  can  bring  such  a  shaft  as 
that  from  the  quarries  of  Vermont,  you 
can  tell  that  this  state  is  rich  in  the 
elements  that  will  help  to  build  tem- 
ples, monuments  and  houses  of  wor- 
ship. Vermont  is  also  fruitful  in  ele- 
ments of  human  strength,  power  and 
intelligence  that  shall  match  the  world, 
as  it  has  done  in  the  past,  and  will  do 
in  the  future. 

God  bless  Vermont  and  Vermonters, 
whether  they  stay  at  home  or  go 
abroad.  We  have  plenty  of  room  out 
west,  if  you  get  crowded  here,  and  we 
will  welcome  you.  We  thank  you  from 
the  bottom  of  our  hearts  for  the  wel- 
come you  have  given  us.  Come  and  see 
if  we  be  not  genuine  descendants  of 

Vermonters. 

/ 

DR.   EDGAR  J.  FISH. 

(Of    South    Royalton). 

Ladies  and  gentlemen  and  friend's: 
In  behalf  of  a  very  large  number  of  the 
business  men  and  representative  peopio 
of  this  vicinity,  I  wish  to  give  these 
people  who  have  come  among  us  a  cor- 
dial greeting  and  a  welcome.  We  have 
watched,  not  in  mere  idle  curiosity,  I 


take  it,  but  with  real  interest,  the  prog- 
ress of  this  work;  and  now,  at  its  suc- 
cessful completion,  we  offer  our  hearty 
congratulations,  and  we  wish  to  join 
with  these  people  and  share  the  pride 
and  satisfaction  they  feel  at  the  erec- 
tion of  that  beautiful,  that  magnificent 
and  enduring  memorial  marking  a  his- 
toric and,  to  these  people,  a  hallowed 
spot.  We  greet  you,  gentlemen,  not 
merely  because  you  are  the  representa- 
tives of  a  particular  form  of  faith  or 
creed,  but  we  greet  you  as  men  who 
have  corre  here  in  peace.  We  greet  you 
in  that  broad  spirit  of  toleration,  of 
Christian  charity,  of  brotherly  love, 
which  unites  men  of  every  country,  of 
every  seot,  and  of  every  nation,  and 
which  recognizes  everywhere,  in  all 
men,  at  all  limes  and  in  all  places,  th^ 
fatherhood  of  God  and  the  universal 
brotherhood  of  man.  (Great  applause.) 

ELDER   JOHX   HENRY   SMITH. 

Fellow  citizens,  I  greet  you.  It  has 
been  my  privilege  a  number  of  times  in 
my  life  to  land  from  other  countries  »  n 
the  shores  of  the  United  States,  and 
whenever  my  eyes  looked  upon  the  hills 
of  the  American  coast  I  said  in  my 
heart,  This  is  God's  land.  In  looking 
you  in  the  faces  today  and  recognizing 
the  fact  that  your  forefathers  with  mine 
laid  the  foundations  of  the  government 
of  the  United  States,  it  is  borne  in  upon 
me  that  my  father's  children  with  your 
fathers'  children  purpose  that  that  gov- 
ernment shall  live  as  long  as  govern- 
ments can  be  made  to  live  in  the  earth ; 
that  the  flag  which  our  fathers  put  to 
the  breeze  in  that  day  when  they  de- 
termined that  America  should  be  a  free 
land,  shall  never  be  lowered  by  act  of 
ours.  We  stand  upon  the  high  ground 
that  the  rights  of  conscience  shall  be 
guarded  in  cur  land.  We  never  purpose 
to  surrender  our  right  of  conscience.  We 
have  come  here  with  you  to  pay  our 
respect  to  one  of  the  sons  of  this  soil— 
a  man  who  in  future  time,  as  the  pre- 
judices of  men  shall  subside,  shall  re- 
ceive the  encomiums  of  the  American 
people  and  the  respect  and  honor  of 
the  people  of  all  the  world.  Joslah 
Quincy  was  not  mistaken  when  he 
said  that  it  wa*  not  improbable  that 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


19 


some  future  historian,  in  speaking  of 
the  great  men  of  the  United  States, 
might  say  that  Joseph  Smith,  the  Mor- 
mon prophet,  was  the  greatest  among 
them,  having  established  among  the 
children  of  men  in  this  age  of  free  de- 
bate a  system  of  religion,  and  sustained 
it,  stood  by  it,  and  offered  his  life  for 
its  maintenance. 

I  am  not  here  to  talk  religion;  but  I 
am  here  as  an  American  citizen.  I  am 
here  as  a  descendant  of  this  man's  race, 
whom  I  honor  and  esteem.  I  am  here 
as  a  lover  of  the  American  people,  and 
honor  the  men  who  maintain  the  prin- 
ciples involved  in  the  establishment  of 
our  government,  and  who  purpose  to 
guard  in  sacredness  the  homes  of  its 
children  and  preserve  them  in  the  en- 
joyment cf  the  acceptance  of  religion 
or  its  non-acceptance,  so  far  as  they 
shall  try  to  maintain  the.  principles  of 
liberty  rightly  and  justly. 

May  the  blessings  of  God  abound  in 
your  homes.  The  heroic  principles  that 
led  the  fathers  to  the  establishment  of 
this  government,  may  they  be  in  ner 
sons,  that  not  one  of  us  shall  fail,  as 
this  country  shall  move  forward  in  its 
greatness,  to  sustain  the  Constitution 
and  do  our  part  in  guarding  the  rights 
of  men  with  all  our  power.  That  the 
blessings  of  heaven  may  abide  with 
you;  that  your  homes  may  be  filled  with 
plenty,  that  joy  shall  abound  in  them, 
and  that  you  may  be  successful  in  all 
the  walks  of  life;  that  every  one  of  us 
shall  be  a  friend  to  the  propositions  in- 
volved in  this  government,  that  the 
whole  human  race  shall  call  its  found- 
ers blessed,  and  shall  number  among 
these  the  name  of  the  man  who  planted 
in  th's  western  land  the  Mormon  peo- 
ple, is  the  wish  and  prayer  of  your 
humble  servant.  Speaking  of  the  name 
of  Brigham  Young,  we  must  not  forget 
the  honor  due  to  the  man  who  led  us 
into  th-3  wilderness — a  man  strong  and 
capable,  a  son  of  your  own  soil,  whom 
we  love  and  esteem  for  the  work  he  ac- 
complished. We  esteem  this  man,  we 
hon^r  his  name,  we  honor  the  erection 
of  this  monument,  we  purpose  to  main- 
tain it  in  honor  to  the  world,  and  we 
purpose,  in  fulfillment  of  the  predictions 


he  made,  to  be  a  blessing  to  the  whole 
human  race. 

Duet  by  Emma  Lucy  Gates  and  Rob- 
ert C.  Easton,  "An  Angel  From  on 
High." 

ELDER  HYRUM  M.  SMITH. 

I  have  been  very  much  delighted  with 
my  trip  to  this  part  of  the  country, 
and  in  having  the  privilege  of  visiting 
these,  to  me  and  to  most  of  the  Latter- 
day  iSaints,  hallowed  spots.  I  was 
delighted  to  visit  yesterday  the  town  in 
which  my  grandfather  was  born;  and 
now  to  have  the  privilege  of  coming 
here  and  viewing  the  very  hearthstone 
of  the  old  home  of  Father  Smith,  my 
great  grandfather,  and  the  birthplace 
of  Joseph  Smith,  the  Prophet  of  God,  is 
something  that  I  esteem  as  a  blessing 
from  the  Lord.  I  am  very,  very  thank- 
ful in  my  heart,  too,  that  we  have  been 
enabled  to  accomplish  the  work  of 
erecting  a  monument  of  such  noble  pro- 
portions in  honor  of  so  noble  a  man.  I 
would  repeat  to  you,  my  friends,  what 
has  already  been  stated,  that  this  mon- 
ument is  a  credit  to  you  and  to  this 
state.  It  is  a  credit  to  this  nation, 
and  to  any  people.  It  is  a  masterpiece. 
It  cannot  be  excelled.  It  is  excellent, 
and  must  be  so  adjudged  by  you,  if 
you  judge  it  impartially. 

Now  let  me  tell  you  that  the  erection 
of  this  monument  and  of  this  little 
cottage  is  only  typical  of  the  way  the 
Latter-day  Saints  build.  Everything 
they  build  they  build  good;  they  build 
for  time,  and  also  for  eternity.  We 
build  good,  comfortable  homes;  and 
in  those  homes  there  is  pure  love 
abounding.  In  our  hearts  we  have  love 
for  all  men,  whom  we  recognize  as  be- 
ing the  sons  and  daughters  of  God.  as 
we  are.  I  would  say  to  you,  esteem  this 
monument.  Have  some  personal  pride 
in  it.  If  you  do  not,  I  will  predict  to 
you  that  in  the  providence  of  God  your 
children  after  you  will.  They  will  es- 
teem it  as  a  good  work,  they  will  look 
to  it  with  pride,  and  they  will  welcome 
the  stranger  here  to  view  it,  even 
though  it  is  the  work  of  Latter-day 
Saints.  It  is  a  work  of  art  and  stabil- 
ity, and  a  good  work.  And  as  you  have 


20 


DEDICATION  OF 


not  received  any  hurt  from  your  associ- 
ation with  Brother  Junius  F.  Wells, 
and  as  you  will  not  receive  any  hurt 
from  the  visit  of  the  Presidency  of  the 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day 
Saints  and  their  party,  let  me  say  to 
you  that  you  will  not  receive  any  hurt 
either  by  investigating  carefully  the 
tenets  and  the  doctrines  of  the  Church 
which  we  represent.  There  will  be  nu- 
merous tracts  and  books  distributed 
freely,  and  it  will  do  you  no  harm  to 
read  them  with  prayerful  hearts.  Oh 
the  contrary,  it  will  do  you  good.  You 
will  find  in  our  written  works  the  same 
stability  and  soundness  as  you  have 
found  in  the  works  of  our  hands,  as 
represented  in  this  monument.  You 
will  find  a  high  class  of  literature,  el- 
evating in  its  character.  And  if  you 
will  pray  over  these  things,  vou  will 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  those  who 
believe  in  such  doctrines  must  be  good 
men  and  women,  which  we  claim  to  be. 
We  are  not  afraid  to  represent  our- 
selves as  such,  in  comparison  with  any 
other  class  in  the  world.  Let  me  re- 
peat the  invitation  extended  to  you  by 
President  Lyman:  Come  and  see  us.  We 
will  not  shut  you  out  of  our  houses  of 
worship,  if  you  desire  entrance  there, 
and  if  your  purpose  is  to  do  good  and 
not  to  upbraid. 

Now,  I  trust  that  the  peace  and  bless- 
ings of  God  may  rest  upon  this  spot, 
and  that  you  will  revere  it.  and  not  un- 
dertake to  deface  any  of  this  work,  but 
that  you  will  sustain  and  guard  it  as 
personal  property,  having  pride  in  a 
monument  such  as  this  erected  upon 
your  own  soil. 

ELDER  JESSE  M.  SMITH. 
My  friends,  I  have  been  very  muofh 
interested  in  the  services  here  today, 
and  feel  to  endorse  all  that  has  been 
said.  I  was  on  this  spot  eight  or  nine 
years  ago,  about  this  season  of  the 
year.  Possibly  I  am  the  only  one  of 
the  younger  generations  of  my  race 
that  has  visited  this  spot  prior  to  this 
time.  My  father  was  a  Vermont  man, 
born  at  Royalton.  My  grandmother  was 
a  Vermont  woman,  and  lived  in  Royal- 
ton.  Her  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth 
Schellenger.  My  grandmother  on 


my  mother's  side  was  a  Vermont  wo- 
man, from  Tunbridge,  the  adjoining 
township.  My  grandfather  on  my 
mother's  side  was  a  Massachusetts 
man.  So  you  can  see  I  am  a  Yankee 
all  the  way  through.  I  have  pride  in 
my  people,  because  I  know  them  to  be 
a  good,  noble  people.  They  stand 
for  everything  that  is  good,  virtuous 
and  upright  in  mankind.  I  feel  to 
thank  you  for  the  cordial  reception 
you  have  given  us  here  at  this  time, 
and  I  am  satisfied  that  you  will  be 
blessed  for  so  doing. 

ELDER  CHARLES  W.  PENROSE. 

I  feel  highly  honored  at  being  pres- 
ent today,  and  am  very  thankful  for 
the  opportunity  I  have  had  of  coming 
to  the  green  hills  of  Vermont.  I  am 
not  like  some  of  my  friends  and  breth- 
ren who  have  preceded  me  in  speaking 
to  you,  a  native  of  this  soil,  nor  even 
of  the  United  States.  When  you  came 
here  you  came  without  a  rag  to  cover 
you;  when  I  came  to  this  country  I 
brought  several  things  with  me,  and 
one  thing  I  brought  with  me  that  I 
prized  more  than  anything  else  (I  must 
speak  of  it,  although  it  may  touch 
upon  a  religious  question),  and  that  is, 
a  testimony  in  my  soul,  received  from 
God  Almighty,  that  Joseph  Smith,  who 
was  born  among  the  green  hills  of  Ver- 
mont, was  a  Prophet  of  the  living  God, 
raised  up  in  the  nineteenth  century 
to  re-introduce  the  pure  Gospel  of  the 
Son  of  God  and  to  lay  the  foundations 
of  His  Church,  which  was  exactly  sim- 
ilar to  the  Church  the  Savior  Himself 
established  in  the  first  century  of  the 
Christian  era.  I  received  that  testi- 
mony in  old  England,  and  I  am  glad 
to  bear  it  in  New  England.  I  know 
whereof  I  speak.  I  am  not  speaking 
of  that  which  I  merely  believe.  I  know 
this  just  as  well  as  I  know  I  see  you 
here  today.  And  having  this  opportuni- 
ty to  say  a  few  words,  I  feel  it  a  duty 
to  bear  this  testimony.  As  my  friend, 
Brother  Hyrum  Smith,  has  said,  it  will 
not  do  you  any  harm.  I  echo  his  wish 
that  you  will  read  the  literature  we 
leave  among  you;  that  you  may  know 
something  about  the  principles  which 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


21 


were  introduced  by  Joseph  Smith,  who 
was  born  in  Sharon,  Windsor  county, 
Vermont.  I  also  hope  you  will  receive 
some  copies  of  the  newspaper  we  pub- 
lish in  Salt  Lake  City— the  Deseret 
News,  of  which  I  have  had  the  honor 
of  being  the  editor  for  a  number  of 
years.  You  will  see  some  specimens 
there  of  our  literary  skill,  as  well  as  of 
our  mechanical  ability.  You  will  learn 
from  that  paper  that  we  are  not  all 
heathen  in  Utah,  that  we  know  a  few 
things,  and  that  we  are  able  to  imjjart 
something  that  will  be  of  use  to  you, 
as  you  no  doubt  could  to  us  if  we  were 
to  stay  to  receive  it. 

I  am  very  thankful  you  have  been 
so  kind  to  my  friend  Junius  F.  Wells, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  this  monument 
will  be  a  benefit  to  you,  financially  as 
well  as  In  other  ways,  and  I  hope  every 
citizen  will  do  all  that  is  possible  to 
protect  it  from  the  vandals  that  travel 
across  the  country  and  feel  it  a  duty 
to  take  a  relic  from  every  place.  Do 
not  let  that  monument  be  chipped, 
defaced  or  marred  in  any  way.  We 
do  not  expect  you  to  worship  it.  We 
do  not  worship  the  man  in  whose  hon- 
or it  is  erected.  We  worship  God  the 
Father,  in  whose  image  man  was  cre- 
ated, and  His  Son  Jesus  Christ.  And 
I  testify  to  you  that  these  holy  be- 
ings, the  Father  and  the  Son,  did  ac- 
tually visit  Joseph  the  Prophet.  I 
bear  that  testimony  to  you  before  the 
heavens  and  the  earth,  and  I  ask  that 
the  Spirit  of  Almighty  God  will  rest 
upon  you  and  seal  it  upon  your  souls. 
And  that  monument  will  stand  there  as 
a  witness  to  this  generation  of  that 
which  I  speak.  Though  it  is  silent, 
yet  it  "will  speak  to  the  hearts  of  those 
who  gaze  upon  it;  for  I  believe  from 
this  time  forth,  when  that  monument  is 
dedicated  it  will  be  holy  to  the  Lord, 
and  a  holy  influence  will  proceed  there- 
from unto  those  who  will  receive  it. 

My  friends,  I  thank  you  for  your 
hospitality  to  those  who  have  come 
here,  and  for  your  kindness  to  my 
brother  Junius.  I  pray  that  the  bless- 
ings of  God  may  come  upon  you,  and 


upon   all   the   people  of  this   state.       I 
am  a  cosmopolitan.     The  world  is  my 
home.    God  is  my  Father,  and  all  man- 
kind  are  my   brethren   and   sisters.     I   s 
believe,    as  Dr.    Fish  has   said,    in   the 
fatherhood    of    God,    and    therefore    I 
believe  in  the  brotherhood  of  man..    All 
men  in  their  spiritual  natures  are  the 
offspring  of  God.      The  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith  taught  that.      He  answered  the 
question  that  has  come  down  through 
the  ages,  "What  am  I?    Whence  am  I? 
Whither  am  I  going?    And  if  you  will 
learn    from   him,    you    will   know    that 
your   origin   is   divine;    that   you  have 
not  come  up  from  lower  species  of  ani- 
mals through  processes  of  evolution,but 
that  you  are  the  children  of  the  Most 
High.       You   will    learn   why   you   are 
here  on  this  globe,  and    why  you  were 
born  where     you     were;     that  God  in 
the    beginning    determined    beforehand 
the    bounds     of     our    habitation,    and 
where  and  when  we  should  come  into 
this   life,   and  that  there  is   a  purpose 
in    it   all.       We    know    also    something 
about  where  we  are  going,  the  spheres 
that  are  beyond,   and   the  destinies  cf 
the    sons    of    men.       These    have   been 
opened   up  through  Joseph   Smith,   the 
Prophet    of    the    latter    days,    and       I 
hope    the    time    will    come    when    you 
will   all   learn    something   about    them. 
I  feel  that  I  am  among  a  good  people 
here.    My  heart  goes  out  to  you.    I  pray 
that  the  blessing  and  peace  of  God  may 
rest  upon  you,    and   upon  the  sons   of 
Vermont;  may  the  name  of  the  Prophet 
reverberate  throughout  the   earth,  and 
may    the    time    come    when    all    people 
throughout  the  world  shall  singr: 

"Hail    to    the      Prophet,      ascended    to 

heaven! 
Traitors  and   tyrants  now   fight  him 

in   vain; 
Mingling  with  Gods,   he  can    plan    for 

his  brethren; 

Death      cannot      conquer      the     hero 
again." 

President   Joseph   F.    Smith   then   of- 
fered the  following 


22 


DEDICATION  OF 


DEDICATORY  PRAYER. 

Our  Father  who  art  in  heaven!  Hal- 
lowed be  Thy  most  holy  name.  We, 
Thy  servants  and  handmaidens,  repre- 
senting the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of 
Latter-day  Saints,  have  gathered  here 
to  dedicate  this  monument  to  the  mem- 
ory of  Thy  servant,  Joseph  Smith,  the 
great  Prophet  and  Seer  of  the  nine- 
teenth century,  who  was  born  into  the 
world  near  this  spot,  on  the  23rd  day 
of  December,  1805 — one  hundred  years 
ago. 

It  was  from  him  that  we  received  the 
everlasting  Gospel,  revealed  to  him  by 
the  Eternal  Father,  through  Jesus 
Christ,  the  Son. 

With  hearts  full  of  gratitude  to  Thee 
for  the  light  and  truth  of  Thy  Gospel, 
the  authority  of  the  Holy  Priesthood, 
and  the  ordinances  of  salvation  for  the 
living  and  for  the  dead,  revealed 
through  Thy  servant  Joseph  Smith;  in 
loving  remembrance  of  him,  and  grate- 
full  for  the  privilege  of  being  present  on 
this  occasion,  we  dedicate  to  Thee  the 
ground  on  which  stands  this  monument 
that  it  may  be  sacred  and  most  holy. 
We  dedicate  the  foundation,  typical  of 
the  foundation  Thou  hast  laid,  of  Apos- 
tles and  Prophets,  .with  Jesus  Christ, 
Thy  son,  as  the  chief  corner  stone.  We 
dedicate  the  base,  as  typifying  the  rock 
of  revelation  on  which  Thy  Church  is 
built.  We  dedicate  the  die,  with  its  in- 
scriptions, as  appropriate  to  the  whole 
design.  We  dedicate  the  capstone  as  a 
sign  of  the  glorious  crown  that  Thy 
servant  Joseph  has  secured  unto  him- 
self through  his  integrity  to  Thy  cause, 
and  of  that  similar  reward  which  shall 
grace  the  head  of  each  of  his  faithful 
followers.  We  dedicate  the  spire,  as 
a  token  of  the  inspired  man  of  God 
whom  Thou  didst  make  indeed  a  pol- 


ished shaft  in  Thine  hand,  reflecting 
the  light  of  heaven,  even  Thy  glorious 
light,  unto  the  children  of  men. 

We  dedicate  the  whole  monument, 
as  signifying  the  finished  work  of  hu- 
man redemption.  And  we  now  earn- 
estly invoke  upon  it  Thy  blessing,  O 
Lord,  and  ask  Thy  divine  approval,  ac- 
ceptance and  protection,  that  it  may 
stand  as  a  lasting  testimony  to  the 
world  of  the  love  and  devotion  of  Thy 
people,  of  the  opening  of  the  last  dis- 
pensation and  the  coming  of  the  Son 
of  Man.  May  it  be  preserved  from  the 
ravages  of  time,  the  disintegrating  ac- 
tion of  the  elements,  from  upheavals 
of  the  earth's  surface,  and  from  the 
violence  of  human  malice  or  caprice. 
May  it  be  surrounded  by  the  influence 
of  the  spirit  of  peace,  and  remain  a 
joy  to  Thy  people  who  may  behold  it, 
and  a  silent  witness  for  Thee  to  all 
who  may  look  upon  it. 

And  may  the  light  of  the  Gospel  re- 
stored to  the  earth  through  Thy  ser- 
vant, the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith,  shine 
forth  to  every  land  and  nation,  until 
all  people  shall  come  to  the  knowledge 
of  Thy  truth,  and  the  name  of  Thy 
chosen  minister  be  known,  for  good, 
and  not  for  evil,  unto  the  uttermost 
parts  of  the  earth. 

Bless  those  who  have  contributed  of 
their  means  for  the  erection  of  this 
monument.  And  remember  in  loving 
kindness  all  Thy  people.  Deal  out 
blessing,  prosperity  and  continued  hap- 
piness upon  our  glorious  country  and 
all  her  people.  Bless  and  preserve  our 
nation,  and  guide  those  who  direct  her 
affairs  in  all  their  exalted  stations. 
Give  the  judicial,  lawmaking  and  ex- 
ecutive branches  of  our  government 
adequate  wisdom,  that  her  integrity 
may  be  preserved,  and  that  her  glori- 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


23 


ous  institutions,  the  just  liberties  of 
her  people  and  the  rights  of  all  her 
citizens  may  be  preserved  and  perpet- 
uated. 

And  O  God,  we  ask  Thee,  in  the 
name  of  Thy  Son  Jesus  Christ,  that 
Thou  wilt  bless  and  sanctify  all  the 
land  surrounding  this  spot,  sacred  to 
the  membory  of  all  Thy  people,  it  be- 
ing the  birthplace  of  Thy  servant 
Joseph.  May  it  be  hallowed  by  Thy 
people.  May  Thy  blessing  abide  upon 
it,  that  it  may  be  a  blessed  place, 
where  Thy  people  may  visit  from  time 
to  time  and  rejoice  in  contemplating 
Thy  goodness  in  that  Thou  hast  re- 
stored to  the  earth  the  fulness  of  the 
Gospel  of  Thy  Son,  with  all  the  power 
and  authority  necessary  to  administer 
it  and  all  its  ordinances  unto  the  in- 
habitants of  the  earth,  for  their  salva- 
tion and  for  the  redemption  of  their 
dead. 

And  inasmuch  as  this  little  cottage 
has  been  erected,  and  provision  made 
by  which  all  the  expenses  thereof  may 
be  defrayed,  we  offer  unto  Thee  this 
building,  and  ask  that  Thou  wilt  sanc- 
tify it;  for  we  dedicate  It  unto  Thee, 
and  consecrate  it  to  the  needs  of  those 
who  shall  come  to  visit  here  to  contem- 
plate, and  to  receive  instruction,  light 
and  understandging  concerning  Thy 
great  latter-day  work.  May  no  harm 
come  to  this  little  dwelling.  May  those 
who  dwell  here  possess  the  spirit  of 
light  and  truth  in  their  hearts.  May 
their  souls  burn  with  love  for  the  sal- 
vation of  the  human  family,  and  may 
they  take  great  pains  in  administering 
unto  those  that  shall  come,  for  their 
comfort  and  enlightenment,  that  they 
may  be  assisted  in  their  search  for  that 
which  will  exalt  them  and  bring  them 
back  into  Thy  presence. 


We  ask  Thee  also,  Heavenly  Father, 
that  Thou  wilt  remember  in  Thy  mercy 
and  in  Thy  continued  love  Thy  serv- 
ant Junius  F.  Wells,  who  has  borne 
this  great  labor  and  responsibility.  May 
Thy  blessing  and  peace  abide  in  him. 
We  thank  Thee  for  him,  for  his  integ- 
rity, for  his  persistent  and  intelligent 
labor  in  the  accomplishment  of  this 
work.  We  pray  for  Thy  blessings  to  be 
upon  him  from  this  time  henceforthi 
and  forever.  Bless  him  with  those 
things  that  are  needful  for  life,  and! 
with  Thy  Spirit,  that  he  may  continue 
to  live  in  the  light  of  Thy  countenance. 
Wilt  though  bless  abundantly  also 
those  who  have  taken  part  in  this  labor 
— the  laborers,  those  who  have  direct- 
ed the  work,  and  those  who  have  fur- 
nished the  material  and  the  skill  with 
which  this  labor  has  been  accom- 
plished. We  ask  Thy  blessing  upon 
them,  Holy  Father,  one  and  all.  May 
they  prosper  in  the  land.  May  they 
be  blessed  of  the  Lord  in  their  basket 
and  in  their  store,  in  their  outgoing 
and  incoming,  when  they  shall  lie 
down  and  when  they  shall  rise  up.  O 
God,  put  Thy  Spirit  into  their  hearts; 
lead  them  in  the  path  of  righteousness, 
and  prosper  them  in  the  labor  of  their 
hands. 

We  ask  Thee  to  bless  the  people  of 
South  Royalton,  of  Tunbridge  and 
Sharon,  and  of  the  surrounding  coun- 
try. And  this  land  being  the  birth- 
place and  the  nursing  place  of  many 
of  Thy  most  faithful  and  renowned 
servants,  who  have  made  their  mark 
in  the  world  for  the  uplifting  and  bene- 
fit of  mankind,  O  God,  wilt  Thou  let 
Thy  peace  and  blessing  be  upon  this 
land.  May  it  be  prospered.  May  those 
who  dwell  here  multiply  and  increase 
and  replenish  the  earth.  May  all  bar- 


DEDICATION   OF 


renness  be  removed  from  the  soil,  that 
it  may  be  fruitful  and  prosperous  from 
this  time  forward;  that  good  men  may 
gather  here,  and  those  born  here  find 
place  and  be  happy  and  enjoy  them- 
selves in  the  midst  of  these  everlasting 
hills. 

We  ask  all  these  blessings,  heavenly 
Father,  and  we  dedicate  unto  Thee 
ourselves,  our  labors  and  all  that  we 
have,  and  this  gathering,  and  those 
who  have  come  here  to  assist  us  in  the 
services.  Thy  servants  and  handmaid- 
ens who  have  come  here  to  sing  for  us, 
we  pray  for  Thy  blessings  to  be  upon 
them,  and  upon  each  and  every  one. 
•  Bless  all  that  seek  to  do  good,  to  build 
up;  and  sustain  the  righteous,  the  up- 
right, the  honest  and  the  pure  in  heart 
in  all  the  land. 

These  mercies,  Holy  Father,  we  hum- 
bly ask,  and  we  rejoice  in  Thy  mercy 
and  kindness  unto  us.  We  give  honor, 
and  glory,  and  praise  and  obedience 
unto  Thy  most  holy  name,  and  ask 
Thee  to  accept  of  this  monument  and 
of  this  little  cottage,  these  services  and 
all  our  efforts. 

We  rejoice  in  Thy  goodness.  We 
praise  and  adore  Thee  this  day.  We 
commend  ourselves,  with  this  monu- 
ment, unto  Thee.  Glory,  and  honor, 
and  majesty,  and  power,  and  dominion, 
be  ascribed  unto  God  and  the  Lamb, 
now  and  forever.  Amen. 

Singing:  "Praise  to  the  man  who 
communed  with  Jehovah." 

Brother  Cecil  Gates  was  the  accom- 
panist in  the  singing  exercises. 

President  Smith  announced  that  Miss 
Edith  A.  Smith,  being  the  oldest  lady 
representative  of  the  Smith  family  pres- 
ent, would  have  the  honor  of  unveil- 
ing the  monument. 

He  then  proposed  a  vote  of  very  sin- 
cere thanks  to  Brother  Junius  F.  Wells, 


as  an  expression  of  our  appreciation  of 
his  labors.  The  proposition  was  en- 
thusiastically received,  and  the  vote  was 
unanimous. 

Benediction  by  Elder  George  Albert 
Smith. 

Immediately  after  the  close  of  the 
meeting  the  monument  was  unveiled  by 
Edith  A.  Smith.  The  exact  time  of  the 
unveiling  was  1:20  p.  m.,  eastern  time. 

W^iile  the  people  were  gathered  out- 
side, the  entire  assembly  sang  "The 
Star  Spangled  Banner"with  thrilling  ef- 
fect lead  by  Sister  Emma  Lucy  Gates. 

After  the  unveiling  of  the  monument 
and  the  partaking  of  lunch,  President 
Smith  and  party  from  Utah,  and  Presi- 
dent John  G.  McGuarrie  and  company 
from  the  Eastern  States  Mission,  as- 
sembled in  the  room  of  the  cottage 
wherein  the  hearthstone  is  situated, 
and  President  Anthon  H.  Lund,  on  be- 
half of  the  Utah  party,  Presented  Presi- 
dent Smith  with  a  watchchain  and  lock- 
et, in  the  following  words: 

PRESIDENT  ANTHON  H.  LUND. 

President  Smith  and  brethren  and  sis- 
ters: Before  we  leave  this  sacred  room 
we  wish  to  express  our  love  and  es- 
teem for  our  President.  The  party  that 
came  from  Utah  have  asked  me  to  ex- 
press their  feelings  to  you,  President 
Smith,  and  I  feel  highly  honored  in  be- 
ing chosen  to  do  so.  This  room  in  which 
we  are  seems  to  me  a  very  fitting  place 
in  which  to  tell  you  (which  we  realize 
we  need  not  do)  that  you  have  our  love 
and  our  esteem.  We  like  to  be  in  your 
company.  We  thank  you  for  giving  us 
the  privilege  of  coming  with  you  on  this 
occasion.  Our  trip  so  far  has  been  a 
very  pleasant  one— one  that  we  will  all 
remember.  We  have  had  a  very  en- 
joyable time  visiting  together,  getting 
well  acquainted  with  one  another.  We 
thank  you,  President  Smith,  for  taking 
us  with  you.  We  are  pleased  that  you 
felt  impressed  to  have  this  work  done 
when  it  was  suggested  by  Brother 
Wlells.  We  feel  that  it  is  the  right 
thing  done,  that  it  is  a  fitting  monu- 
ment of  the  great  man  who  has  done  so 
much  for  us.  We  all  feel  that  we  are 
what  we  are  through  his  agency,  he 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


25 


having  been  the  instrument  chosen  of 
God  to  introduce  the  Gospel  anew  in  the 
world,  and  we  having  been  the  happy 
recipients  thereof.  In  this  place  he  was 
born.  Around  this  hearthstone  your 
father,  being  five  years  older,  no  doubt 
had  to  rock  the  cradle  at  times  and 
help  to  take  care  of  the  Prophet.  There 
is  no  doubt  that  he  sat  on  the  very  spot 
where  you  are  now  sitting,  and  that  in 
this  room  he  enjoyed  many  happy 
days,  sitting  around  the  hearthstone  the 
long  winter  nights.  We  can  imagine  the 
cosy  circle  that  was  gathered  here. 
Now,  President  Smith,  before  we  leave 
this  room  we  want  you  to  remember  it 
by  a  little  present  which  the  party  who 
have  come  with  you  feel  that  they 
would  like  to  give  you,  and  I  have  the 
honor  to  present  to  you  a  chain  and 
locket.  President  Smith,  wear  it  and 
remember  us. 

President  Smith  was  deeply  touched 
by  this  manifestation  of  love  and  good- 
will, and  while  he  responded,  he  was 
more  than  once  overcome  by  his  emo- 
tions and  the  entire  party  were  in  tears. 
He  expressed  himself  as  follows: 

PRESIDENT  JOSEPH  F.   SMITH. 

I  hardly  know  whether  I  can  trust 
myself  to  say  anything.  It  would  not 
be  true  for  anyone  in  my  position  to 
say  less  than  that  I  esteem  above  all 
the  riches  or  any  honor  that  the  world 
can  be,stow,  the  love  and  confidence  of 
my  associates— to  know  that  I  have  a 
little  merit,  to  be  worthy,  at  least  in 
small  degree,  of  possessing  the  confi- 
dence and  love  of  good  men  and  good 
women.  Of  course,  my  heart  has  been 
full  during  the  whole  of  the  day.  Yes- 
terday, while  visiting  the  birth- 
place of  my  father  and  some  of  his 
brothers  and  sisters,  and  contemplating 
this  rugged  country,  filled  with  hills 
and  ravines,  the  thought  that  here  in 
this  land  was  where  my  kindred  had 
birth,  that  we  are  perhaps  traversing 
the  same  roads  and  the  same  ravines, 
and  possibly  partaking  of  the  products 
of  the  same  orchard  from  which  our 
ancestors  two  or  three  generations  ago 
partook,  and  then  the  thought  of  dedi- 
cating this  monument— (here  the  presi- 


dent broke  down,  his  voice  choked  with 
emotion,  and  his  eyes  filled  with  tears; 
but,  making  an  effort  to  control  him- 
self, he  continued)  My  heart  is  like 
that  of  a  child.  It  is  easily  touched, 
especially  with  love.  I  can  much  easier 
weep  for  joy  than  for  sorrow.  I  sup- 
pose perhaps  it  is  due  to  some  extent 
to  the  fact  that  all  my  early  remem- 
brances were  painful  and  sorrowful. 
The  persecutions  of  the  prophet  and 
people  in  Missouri  and  in  Illinois,  the 
final  martyrdom  of  the  Prophet  and  my 
father,  the  expulsion  of  the  saints  from 
Nauvoo,  the  driving  out  of  the  widows 
and  the  orphans  from  their  homes,  the 
journey  across  the  plains,  the  hard- 
ships we  e.ndured  in  the  settling  of  the 
valley  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  and  try- 
ing to  make  a  home  there,  my  experi- 
ences on  the  plains,  in  standing  guard, 
herding  cattle,  and  going  to  the  can- 
yons; then  starting  out  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  on  a  mission  to  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  so  far  away,  alone  apparently, 
without  father  or  mother,  without  kin- 
dred or  friends  scarcely— all  this  had  a 
tendency  in  my  youth  to  depress  my 
spirit.  But  I  had  strength  by  the  grace 
of  God  to  keep  myself  from  deadly  sins. 
And  now  when  I  experience  the  expres- 
sions of  confidence  and  love  of  my 
brethren  and  sisters  whom  I  love,  it 
goes  directly  to  my  heart.  I  want  to 
thank  you  for  the  expressions  made 
through  President  Lund  by  my  brethren 
and  sisters  who  are  present,  and  to 
say  that  I  appreciate  and  prize  it  more 
than  all  else  in  the  world.  I  would 
rather  die  any  moment  than  to  do 
aught'  that  would  forfeit  the  confidence 
and  the  love  of  my  friends  and  my. 
brethren.  I  want  to  live  so  that  I  will 
be  worthy^  in  some  degr.ee— I  cannot  ex- 
pect to  be  as  worthy  as  I  should  be — 
of  the  love  and  confidence  shown  to- 
wards me;  but  I  desire  to  have  at  least 
some  merit  and  to  be  a  little  worthy 
of  the  confidence  and  love  of  my  breth- 
ren. 

God  bless  you.  May  the  Lord  bless 
this  little  home.  May  someone  be  found 
suitable  and  capable  to  take  care  of 
it  and  to  answer  the  questions  of  visi- 
tors, as  well  as  to  give  information  in" 


26 


DEDICATION  OF 


reference  to  the  principles  of  the  gos- 
pel  and  the  history  of  the  Prophet  Jo- 
seph Smith  and  his  associates  who  were 
born  in  this  land,  and  who  were  in- 
strumental in  the  hands  of  the  Lord 
in  laying  the  foundations  of  this  work, 
that  this  property  may  be  safe  in  their 
hands,  and  that  it  may  be  protected 
from  vandalism  and  from  the  hand  of 
the  spoiler. 

I  do  not  need  to  say  any  more.  I 
thank  you  for  this  beautiful  little  token 
of  your  affections,  and  I  shall  certainly 
appreciate  and  prize  it.  I  have  always 
been  one  who  appreciated  marks  of 
respect  in  this  way.  I  am  wearing  a 
chain  today  given  me  by  Brothers 
Junius  F.  Wells  and  Heber  J.  Grant. 
I  never  bought  a  watch,  nor  a  chain, 
nor  a  ring,  nor  a  Jewel  of  any  kind 
for  myself.  The  rings  that  I  wear,  I 
wear  because  they  were  given  to  me  by 
my  friends.  I  shall  do  the  same  with 
this  beautiful  little  chain.  I  thank 
you  for  your  kindness,  and  I  say,  God 
bless  you!  and  so  far  as  I  have  the 
right  and  authority  to  bless,  I  bless 
you  in  the  narne  of  Jesus  Christ.  Peace 
be  with  you,  and  unto  this  place,  unto 
this  monument,  and  unto  all  who  come 
to  visit  it  with  feelings  of  respect  in 
their  hearts;  and  those  who  come  with- 
out feelings  of  respect,  may  it  have  the 
effect  of  softening  their  hearts,  opening 
their  eyes,  and  causing  them  to  reflect 
soberly  upon  this  great  problem  of  hu- 
man life  and  redemption  that  has  been 
opened  up  to  the  world  through  the 
instrumentality  of  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith.  God  bless  you  all.  Amen. 

All  present  joined  in  singing  the  Dox_ 
ology. 

Then  Brother  Junius  F.  Wells  distri- 
buted to  the  company  souvenirs  of  the 
occasion  in  the  shape  of  polished  gran- 
ite paper  weights,  made  from  a  piece 
cut  from  the  centre  of  the  large  base 
of  the  monument.  One  was  given  to 
each  person. 

President  Smith  thanked  Brother 
Wells,  on  behalf  of  the  company,  for 
his  thoughtfulness  in  this  matter. 

Benediction  was  then  pronounced  by 
Patriarch  John  Smith. 

Following  these  exercises  Elder  Wells 


gave   the   following   description   of   the' 
Monument. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  MONUMENT 

That  a  correct  account  may  be  pre- 
served, I  will  state  that  the  foundation, 
of  the  monument  was  put  in  under  the 
direction  of  Prof.  C.  C.  Brill  for  Mr. 
Jackson,  the  contractor.  It  is  made  of 
concrete,  composed  of  Portland  cement, 
45  barrels,  sand  and  gravel  30  cubic 
yards,  and  boulders,  20  cubic  yards. 
This  is  tamped  in  an  excavation  mostly 
blasted  out  of  the  ledge,  14  feet  square 
at  the  bottom,  and  seven  feet  deep.  The 
bottom  is  solid  rock.  Upon  this  con- 
crete foundation  rests  the  first  granite 
base,  12  feet  square  and  20  inches  thick, 
weight  18  tons.  From  the  center  of  this 
a  block  nearly  five  feet  square  was  cut 
out  to  facilitate  handling  it.  This  space 
is  filled  with  concrete,  except  one  foot 
square,  in  which  reposes  a  copper  cas- 
ket, containing  books,  records,portraits, 
coins,  etc. 

Over  this  rests  the  second  base,  9 
feet  square,  and  2  feet  thick,  weight  13 
tons.  Upon  it  stands  the  inscription 
die.  This  is  six  feet  square  at  the 
bottom,  and  two  inches  less  at  the  top. 
It  is  six  feet  two  inches  high,  weight 
19  tons.  It  is  covered  by  a  moulded 
cap  seven  feet  four  inches  square  by 
two  feet  six  inches  thick,  weight  10 
tons. 

Upon  the  top  of  the  latter  the  shaft 
is  set.  It  is  four  feet  square  at  the 
base,  and  three  feet  at  the  top— the 
peak  rises  three  feet  higher.  Its  whole 
length  is  38^  feet,  weight  39  tons. 

All  the  granite  of  the  monument  is 
highly  polished  from  base  to  pinnacle. 
It  is  50  feet  ten  inches  high  and  weighs 
nearly  one  hundred  tons.  The  joints 
are  set  in  cement  and  leaded,  except 
the  cap  and  shaft,  which  rest  upon  lead 
only. 

The  monument  is  set  on  the  crown  of 
the  hill,  eighty-seven  feet  from  the 
hearthstone  and  1,350  feet  above  sea  lev- 
el. Its  lines  are  squared  with  the  ancient 
town  line  running  north  40  degrees  10 
minutes  east,  and  is  parallel  with  the 
front  of  the  memorial  cottage-  The  in- 
scriptions are  as  follows:  Upon  the- 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


27 


southerly  side  in  sunken  letters— the 
largest  three  inches  long,  the  smallest 
two  inches: 

SACRED 

TO  THE  MEMORY   OF 
JOSEPH  SMITH, 
THE  PROPHET. 

BORN  HERE 
23d   DECEMBER,    1805; 

MARTYRED, 

CARTHAGE,  ILLINOIS, 

27TH  JUNE,  1844. 

On  the  opposite  or  northerly  side  in 
letters,  the  largest  three  inches,  the 
smallest  one  and  three-quarters  inches: 

TESTIMONY  OF  JOSEPH  SMITH. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  of  our  Lord, 
1820,  The  Father  and  The  Son  appeared 
to  him  in  a  glorious  vision,  called  him 
by  name  and  instructed  him. 

Thereafter  heavenly  angels  visited 
him  and  revealed  the  principles  of  the 
Gospel,  restored  the  authority  of  the 
Holy  Priesthood,  and  the  organization 
of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  in  its 
fulness  and  perfection. 

The  engraved  plates  of  the  Book  of 
Mormon  were  given  him  by  the  angel 
Moroni.  These  he  translated  by  the 
gift  and  power  of  God. 

He  organized  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints  on  the  sixth 
day  of  April,  1830,  with  six  members. 

He  devoted  his  life  to  the  establish- 
ment of  this  Church,  and  sealed  his  tes- 
timony with  his  blood. 

In  his  ministry  he  was  constantly 
supported  by  his  brother  Hyrum  Smith, 
who  suffered  martyrdom  with  him. 

Over  a  million  converts  to  this  tes- 
timony have  been  made  throughout  the 
world;  and  this  monument  has  been 
erected  in  his  honor,  to  commemorate 
the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  his 
birth,  by  members  of  the  Church  which 
he  organized. 

They  love  and  revere  him  as  a  Proph- 
et of  God,  and  call  his  name  blessed 
forever  and  ever,  Amen. 

Around  the  capstone  just  above  the 
die,  in  letters  three  inches  long,  is  the 
following  quotation  from  'the  Bible, 
which  led  Joseph  to  seek  the  Lord: 

"If  any  of  you  lack  wisdom  let  him 
ask  of  God,  that  giveth  to  all  men  lib- 
erally and  upbraideth  not;  and  it  shall 
be  given  him."  James  I:  5. 


The  following  description  of  the  con- 
tents of  the  copper  casket  placed  in  the 
base  of  the  Monument  is  from  a  com- 
munication by  Elder  Wells  to  the  Presi- 
dency written  Nov.  27,  1905: 

IN  MEMORIAM. 

Be  it  remembered  that  upon  this  Mon- 
day, the  twenty-seventh  day  of  No- 
vember, Anno  Domini,  1905.  there  has 
been  deposited  within  a  receptacle  pre- 
pared for  it  in  the  lower  granited  base 
of  the  Joseph  Smith  Monument,  at 
Sharon,  Windsor  County,  Vermont,  a 
casket  of  copper  whose  dimensions 
are  12  inches  by  15  inches  by  9  inches, 
made  by  Mr.  George  H.  Dewey. 

Within  the  casket  there  have  been 
placed  by  Junius  F.  Wells  of  Salt  Lake 
City,  Utah,  in  the  presence  of  those 
whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed 
as  witnesses,  the  following  books,  docu- 
ments., coins,  etc.,  to  the  end  that  they 
shall  be  preserved  through  all  the  gen- 
erations of  time  while  this  monument 
shall  stand: 

The  Holy  Bible. 

The  Book  of  Mormon. 

The  Book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants. 

The  Pearl  of  Great  Price. 

The  Latter-day  Saints'  Hymn  Book. 

Life  of  Joseph  Smith,  by  his  mother. 

Life  of  Joseph  Smith,  by  George  Q. 
Cannon. 

Church  Chronology,  by  Andrew  Jen- 
son. 

Title  deed  to  the  farm  on  which  the 
Monument  stands,  from  C.  H.  Robinson 
to  Joseph  F.  Smith  Trustee-in-Trust. 

Certified  testimonies  of  its  being  the 
birthplace  of  Joseph  Smith,  by  Ben- 
jamine  C.  Latham,  Harvey  Smith  and 
Maria  Griffiths. 

The  Deseret  News  of  July  1st,  1905. 

The  Improvement  Era,  October,  1905. 

Portraits  of  the  successive  Presidents 
of  the  Church  as  follows:  Joseph  Smith, 
Brigham  Young,  John  Taylor,  Wilford 
Woodruff,  Lorenzo  Snow,  and  Joseph  F. 
Smith. 

Portrait  of  George  Washington,  first 
President  of  the  United  States. 

Portrait  of  Theodore  Roosevelt, 
present  President  of  the  United  States. 


DEDICATION   OF 


Fractional  coins  of  the  United  States 
Mintage  of  1905. 

Acts  and  resolves  of  the  State  of  Ver- 
mont, 1904,  with  names  and  reports  of 
state  officials  for  the  preceeding  year. 

Report  of  the  town  of  Sharon,  1905. 

Chronicle  of  Current  Events  in  Town 
of  Sharon,  1905,  by  G.  A.  Cheney. 

Report  of  the  Town  of  Royalton,  1905. 

Chronicle  of  Current  Events  in  Town 
of  Royalton,  1905,  by  William  Skinner, 
Town  Clerk. 

A  document  containing  the  names  of 
those  identified  with  the  making, 
transportation  and  erection  of  the 
Monument. 

Names  of  the  present  general  officials 
of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter- 
day  Saints,  together  with  the  names  of 
the  previous  Presidents  in  succession 
since  its  organization  April  6,  1830,  on 
parchment. 

Pamphlet,  "Glimpses  of  White  River 
Valley,"  by  G.  A.  Cheney. 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that 
we,  the  undersigned,  do  hereby  certify 
that  all  of  the  books,  documents,  por- 
traits, coins  and  articles  within  enumer- 
ated, were  deposited  in  this  copper 
casket  in  our  presence,  Witness  our 
hands  this  26th  day  of  November  A.  D. 
1905. 

JUNIUS    F.    WELLS, 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

RILEY  C.   BOWERS, 
Contractor,  Montpelier,  Vt. 

DANIEL  E.  PARKHURST, 
Town  Clerk,  Sharon,  Vt. 

WILLIAM  SKINNER, 
Town  Clerk,  Royalton,  Vt. 

EDGAR  J.  FISH, 
State  Senator,  1904-1906,  Vt. 

JULIUS  O.  BELKNAP, 
Postmaster,  So.  Royalton,  Vt. 

ELMORE  B.  BOYLE, 
First    Selectman,    Royalton,    Vt. 

MARVIN  H.  HAZEN, 
Deputy  Sheriff,  Royalton,  Vt. 

PEARL  S.  BELKNAP,- 
Asst.  Postmaster,  So.  Royalton,  Vt. 

GEORGE   H.   DEWEY, 
Coppersmith,  So.  Royalton,  Vt. 

JOHN  H.  HEWITT. 
Merchant,  So.  Royalton.  Vt. 

CHARLES  P.  TARBELL, 
Lawyer,  So.  Royalton,  Vt. 

JAMES  F.  McNEIL, 
Contractor,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 


CHARLES  H.  WOODARD. 
Hotel  Proprietor,  So.  Royalton,  Vt. 

MARK  J.  SARGENT. 
Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Subscribed     and     acknowledged     this 
26th  day  of  November  A.  D.  1905,  before 
me,. 

ARTHUR  G.  WHITHAM, 
Notary  Public. 


The  following  persons  had  a  responsi- 
ble part  in  the  quarrying,  making, 
transportation  and  erection  of  the  Jo- 
seph Smith  Monument  at  Sharon, Wind- 
sor County,  Vermont: 

Junius  F.  Wells,  of  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah,  Designer  and  Superintendent  of 
Construction. 

Riley  C.  Bowers,  President,  R.  C. 
Bowers  Granite  Co.,  Montpelier,  general 
contractors. 

Marr  and  Gordon,  Barre,  Vermont, 
quarryman. 

Boutwell,  Milne  &  Varnum,  Mont- 
pelier and  Barre,i  Vermont,  quarrymen. 

William  Barclay,  of  Barclay  Brothers, 
Barre,  Vermont,  stone  cutters  and 
polishers. 

Railroad  Transportation:  F.  W. 
Stanyan, Superintendent,  Wells  River  R. 
R.,  J.  P.  Galleher,  Agent  Montpelier, 
Central  Vermont  R.  R. 

Overland  Transportation:  James  F. 
McNeil,  Syracuse,  N.  Y.;  H.  C.  Leonard, 
Barre,  Vermont;  E.  B.  Ellis,  Northfield, 
Vermont. 

Laying  foundation:  W.  F.  Jackson, 
Montpelier,  Vermont,  Contractor;  Prof. 
C.  C.  Brill,  Northfield,  Vermont;  John 
Cote,  Northfield,  Vermont. 

Bridge  Construction:  Joseph  Perkins 
and  Mr.  Slaten.  Montpelier,  Vermont, 
Robert  Ford,  Bethel,  Vermont. 

Tarbell  and  Whitham,  attorneys; 
Walker  and  Gallison,  Surveyors;  M.  F. 
Howland,  Barre,  Vt.,  Monument  setter. 

It  is  also  a  pleasure  to  mention  the 
names  of  Woodard  &  Culver,  Pro- 
prietors South  Royalton  Hotel; Mr.  Har- 
rington Proprietor  Casadnac  Hotel, 
Royalton;  Uncle  Ed.  Greene  and  wife; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cowan;  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
George  Bingham;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haynes; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mclntosh;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C. 
H.  Robinson;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Shintock,  at  whose  hospitable  homes 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


29- 


the  men  were  fed  while  engaged  in  the 
work. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  I  had 
the  following  document  signed  by  those 
Who  were  present  when  the  box  was 
deposited  in  the  base  and  cemented  in 
preparatory  to  laying  the  second  base 
over  it. 

Be  it  remembered  that  upon  this  Mon- 
day the  27th  day  of  November,  A.  D. 
1905,  at  twelve  o'clock  noon,  there  was 
deposited  by  Junius  F.  Wells,  of  Salt 
Lake  City,  Utah,  in  the  lower  granite 
base  of  the  Joseph  Smith  Monument, 
Sharon,  Windsor  County,  Vermont,  a 
copper  casket  of  whose  contents  a  rec- 
ord has  been  made. 

Done  in  the  presence  of  those  whose 
names  are  subscribed  hereunto. 
(Signed.) 

W.  F.   ROWLAND, 
C.   A.   STICKNEY. 
F.  A.  ANDERSON, 
DANIEL  PERKINS. 
Witness:  C.  H.  ROBINSON. 


During  the  dedicatory  exercises 

ELDER  JOHN   G.   McQUARRIE 

made  the  following  remarks  from  the 
base  of  the  Monument: 

Between  our  movements  on  this  mys- 
terious current  we  call  time,  and  our 
travels  over  the  more  tangible  earth, 
there  is  a  striking  analogy;  since  in 
either  case  we  encounter  high  peaks, 
deep  valleys,  level  plains  and  rolling 
hills. 

In  our  actual  movements  from  place 
to  place,  as  we  reach  some  elevated  po- 
sition we  instinctively  stop  to  take  our 
bearing,  looking  back  into  the  valley 
from  which  we  have  climbed,  or  for- 
ward along  the  path  stretching  far  into 
the  distance. 

The  tide  of  life  on  which  we  move, 
like  gently  rolling  hills,  seems  to  rise 
and  fall,  and  as  we  reach  the  summit 
of  each  New  Year  we  stop  to  review  the 
past,  and  to  look  into  the  future,  be- 
fore plunging  forward  into  the  mystic 
valley  of  life's  activities. 

There  are  still  higher  summits,   call- 


ed centuries,  which  are  sometimes 
reached  in  this  journey  of  mortal  life. 
From  such  elevations  we  can  observe, 
not  only  our  personal  position,  but  also 
the  birth  and  death,  the  growth  and 
decay,  the  rise  and  fall  of  men,  nations 
and  systems. 

The  closing  days  of  this  year  of  our 
Lord  1905,  find  more  than  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  people,  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of 
Latter-day  Saints,  standing  upon  the 
summit  of  a  century;  reckoning  the 
time  from  the  birth  ol'  their  prophet, 
leader  and  organizer.  It  is  probable 
that  no  people  ever  looked  back  on  a 
more  eventful  or  interesting  past. 
Faith,  zeal,  devotion,  energy,  patriot- 
ism and  tragedy  are  woven  together 
forming  an  important  chain  of  events 
stretching  from  the  Green  Mountains 
of  Vermont  to  the  shores  of  the  Great 
Salt  Lake. 

Far  back  in  the  very  dawning  of  this 
eventful  period,  and  on  the  very  prem- 
ises we  now  occupy,  we  may  discern 
emerging,  as  from  a  mist,  a  plain  New 
England  home.  Hovering  over  its- 
hearth  stone  is  the  halo  of  primitive 
Puritan  influence.  Here  we  witness  a 
humble  birth  and  a  childhood  as  inno- 
cent and  retired  as  that  of  John  the 
Baptist. 

Fourteen  years  nearer,  and  the  scene 
has  changed.  We  observe  our  babe  of 
Sharon  in  the  farmer  boy  of  Manches- 
ter. He  is  just  retiring  from  crowds 
where  the  question  of  serving  God  is- 
being  fiercely  discussed  by  men,  for  he 
has  made  a  discovery  in  reading  the 
Epistle  of  James,  to  this  effect,  that, 
"If  any  of  you  lack  wisdom,  let  him' 
ask  of  God,  that  giveth  to  all  men  lib- 
erally, and  upbraideth  not,  and  it  shall 
be  given  him." 

He  retires  into  the  seclusion  of  a  na- 
tive forest,  and,  as  we  see  him  kneel- 
ing in  humble  prayer,  the  picture  of  the- 
boy  Samuel  comes  before  us;  we  feel 
that  the  faith  of  the  Hebrew  children  is- 
again  stirring  in  the  hearts  of  men.  But 
this  picture  is  instantly  forgotten  in 
beholding  a  vision  more  glorious  than 
the  "Transfiguration,"  for  both  tne 
Father  and  the  Son  appear  to  him  in  a. 


DEDICATION  OF 


pillar   of   light,    compared   with   which, 
the  noon  day  sun  is  only  a  faint  sug- 
'  gestion. 

The  burden  of  the  boy's  prayer  had 
been:  Which  of  all  the  denominations 
is  right,  what  church  shall  I  join?  These 
questions  were  now  repeated  to  his 
heavenly  visitors.  In  response  Jesus 
said:  "Join  none  of  them,  for  they  are 
all  wrong." 

He  also  indicated  to  the  youth  that 
the  Gospel  was  about  to  be  restored  to 
men. 

During  the  next  decade  many  impor- 
tant events  occur,  all  tending  to  fit  tne 
youth  for  the  important  mission  before 
him.  But  as  this  period  draws  to  a 
close  we  see  stepping  boldly  on  the 
stage  of  human  activities  this  charac- 
ter in  the  person  of  Joseph  Smith,  the 
Prophet  of  the  Nineteenth  Century. 

As  we  watch  his  movements  we  rec- 
ognize in  him  a  leader  of  men  possess- 
ing the  courage  of  Joshua,  the  skill  of 
David,  and  the  zeal  of  the  Apostle  Paul. 

Men  commence  to  gather  around  him; 
they  are  organized  into  a  Church;  the 
mysteries,  powers  and  privileges  of  the 
Kingdom  of  God  are  made  clear  to 
them.  Wards  and  branches,  towns  and 
villages  spring  up  in  their  wake.  The 
material  efforts  of  this  great  leader 
culminate  in  building  the  beautiful  city 
of  Nauvoo.  It  was  situated  on  the  Illi- 
nois side  of  the  Mississippi.  With  its 
gently  rising  terraces,  and  the  great 
river  like  a  silver  crescent  at  its  base, 
it  was  indeed  a  picturesque  site. 

Well  has  the  poet  said  that  "Joseph 
loved  the  Saints;  and  he  loved  Nauvoo." 
But  he  loved  the  city,  not  for  its  glit- 
tering spires  or  its  guilded  domes,  but 
for  its  sacred  temple  and  its  happy 
homes. 

Working  beneath  the  protection 
of  the  Stars  and  Stripes;  enthused 
with  a  great  purpose,  and  led  contin- 
ually by  direct  revelation  the  efforts  of 
the  young  prophet  and  his  followers 
were  eminently  successful,  but  from  the 
time  he  had  made  the  daring  state- 
ment that  the  Gospel  was  not  upon  ihb 
-earth,  a  storm  of  hatred  was  awakened 
which  grew  in  strength  as  success  at- 
tended the  new  movement.  This  storm 
.now  bursted  in  all  its  fury  over  Nau- 


voo and  Carthage,  and  when  it  had 
spent  its  force  the  ruin  it  wrought 
would  touch  a  heart  of  stone. 

The  babe  of  Aharon,  the  boy  of  Man- 
chester, the  builder  of  Nauvoo  and  the 
Prophet  of  the  latter  days  had  sealed 
his  testimony  with  his  blood.  He  and 
his  brother  Hyrum  were  shot  to  death 
by  an  infuriated  mob  June  the  27th, 
1844.  As  his  body  lay  lifeless  against 
the  well  curb  at  Carthage  Jail,  the  ene- 
mies of  truth  felt  that  his  work  was 
ended  and  his  influence  gone  forever. 

Sorrow,  despair,  and  disappointment 
are  but  feeble  terms  to  describe  the 
feelings  of  his  devoted  followers,  as 
they  find  themselves  without  a  leader; 
and  behold  the  object  of  their  trust  and 
affection  lying  cold  and  lifeless  in  their 
midst. 

But  when  the  tears  had  cleared  from 
their  eyes  so  they  could  see  and  their 
minds  calmed  sufficiently  to  think,  they 
discovered  that  though  their  Prophet 
was  gone,  his  priesthood,  his  office,  and 
the  system  which  he  established,  still 
remained.  The  mantle  of  his  power  fell 
upon  Brigham  Young.  As  we  watch 
the  movements  of  this  people  under  his 
leadership  we  witness  an  exodus  more 
successful  in  its  operation  than  the  one 
led  by  Moses,  a  march  without  a  paral- 
lel in  the  annals  of  history,  and  in  the 
subduing  of  a  wilderness,  the  building 
of  new  states  we  see  repeated  the  la- 
bors and  successes  of  the  Pilgrim 
Fathers. 

But  grand  and  touching  as  this  pic- 
ture may  appear,  as  seen  from  the  sum- 
mit of  a  century,  there  is  another 
equally  interesting  to  the  Saints  as  they 
look  from  the  high  plateaus  of  the  Wa- 
satch  Mountains;  for  in  the  panorama 
moving  before  them  they  see  tha  ful- 
fillment of  the  dreams  of  the  ancient 
prophets.  Israel  being  gathered  from 
all  the  lands  whither  they  have  been 
scattered;  the  Lord's  House  already 
built  and  the  long-looked-for  Zion  being 
established;  and  strange  as  it  may  ap- 
pear even  in  the  physical  features  of 
the  country,  we  can  see  a  reproduction 
of  Israel's  ancient  home,  the  river  Jor- 
dan rising  far  away  in  the  mountains 
of  Lebanon,  flowing  down  through  its 
rocky,  gorge  forming  the  fresh  water 


THE    MEMORIAL    COTTAGE    AND    MONUMENT. 


THE   HEARTHSTONE,   MEMORIAL  COTTAGE. 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


31 


lake  of  Galilee,  winding  on  until  lost  in 
the  Dead  Sea,  has  its  counterpart  in  the 
Jordan  of  the  western  Zion.  Jerusalem, 
Shechem,  and  Capernaum  rise  again 
from  the  great  American  desert,  and 
the  Lord  has  remembered  His  promise 
to  Jacob. 

MEMORIAL  COTTAGE. 

As  has  been  stated,  the  cottage  oc- 
cupies the  site  of  the  old  homestead. 
Its  foundation  walls  are  laid  on  the 
same  lines  so  far  as  the  difference  in 
size  and  style  of  house  .  would  per- 
mit. The  hearthstone  rests  where 
it  v  did  in  the  old  house.  The 
Living-room,  of  which  the  hearth- 
stone is  the  central  feature,  (set  in  a 
deep  red  brick  fireplace  and  mantel 
with  wrought  iron  trimmings)  is  23x 
18%  feet,  besides  a  bay  3x15  feet,  hav- 
ing a  low  window  seat  21  inches  wide. 
The  main,  or  easterly  entrance,  a  wide 
door  with  Beaded  side  windows,  opens 
from  this  room,  and  opposite  to  it  is 
the  staircase  leading  to  the  upper 
floor. 

Opening  from  the  Living  room  is  the 
Dining  room,  13x21  feet,  with  a  bay 
and  window  seat,  the  same  size  as  the 
one  described.  A  vestibule  with  out- 
side northern  entrance,  opens  from 
this  room  and  passage  through  a  large 
China  closet  is  had  to  the  Kitchen, 
which  is  11x12  feet,  with  a  pantry 
eight  feet  square  and  vestibule,  with 
kitchen  entrance.  A  stairway  leading 
to  the  cellar,  and  one  connecting  on 
a  midway  landing  with  the  front  stairs, 
lead  from  this  room. 

In  the  second  story  the  stairway 
and  hall  make  a  large  central  open- 
ing, from  which  entrance  is  had  to 
five  bed  rooms,  a  bath  room,  and  the 
garret  stairway.  The  garret  is  venti- 
lated and  lighted  with  eyebrow  win- 
dows and  is  very  commodious. 

Along  the  easterly  front  and  run- 
ning around  the  southerly  side  and 
half  way  along  the  westerly  side  of 
the  house,  is  a  veranda  nearly  one 
hundred  feet  long  by  nine  feet  wide, 
over  which  the  roof  of  the  house  pro- 
jects, the  latter  being  supported  by 
•columns  nine  feet  high  and  ten  inches 


in  diameter.  Thus  shelter  within  the 
walls  of  the  house  and  under  the 
veranda  is  provided  for  a  very  large 
company.  The  view  from  all  sides  of 
the  house  is  indescribably  beautiful. 

The  cellar,  under  the  entire  build- 
ing, with  an  eight  foot  ceiling,  affords 
ample  storage  room,  and  contains  a 
hot  air  furnace,  which  heats  the  build- 
ing comfortably. 

The  outside  of  the  house  is  clap- 
boarded  and  is  painted  white,  the  roof 
is  Austrian  grey  shingle  stain,  and 
the  latice  under  the  veranda  dark 
green.  The  interior  of  the  main  floor 
is  flninshed  throughout  with  selected 
red  birch,  beautifully  polished,  giving 
the  effect  of  old  birch.  The  Living 
room  and  Dining  room  have  beam 
ceilings,  and  the  latter  a  plate  rail 
running  the  whole  way  around  the 
room,  the  wall  below  which  is  paneled 
and  papered  with  green  burlap.  The 
upstairs  interior  finish  is  of  spruce, 
with  hardwood  maple  floors,  treated 
naturally.  The  bathroom  is  fitted  with 
porcelain  and  nickel  fixtures. 

BIRTHPLACE    OF    JOSEPH    SMITH 
THE   PROPHET. 

Story  of  the  Purchase  of  the  Historic 
Spot — Record  of  Land  Titles  to  the  Sol- 
omon Mack  Farm — Description  of  the- 
Farm— Testimony  of  Living  Witnesses 
as  to  the  Identity  of  the  Site.  Written 
by  Elder  Junius  F.  Wells,  who  designed 
the  Monument. 

I  had  visited  Sharon,  Windsor  county, 
Vermont,  in  1894,  in  company  with  Hon. 
Spencer  Clawson  and  his  daughter,  and 
became  somewhat  familiar,  at  that 
time,  with  the  facts  concerning  the 
birthplace  of  the  Prophet.  It  was, 
however,  early  in  the  present  year  that 
attention  was  drawn  more  particularly 
to  it  and  the  desirability  of  acquiring 
and  marking  it  for  its  historical  in- 
terest. 

At  the  request  of  the  First  Presi- 
dency of  the  Church,  I  undertook  an 
inquiry  into  the  identity  of  the  location 
and  as  to  the  titles  of  the  property. 

Starting  with  the  statement  contained 
in  the  "Life  of  Joseph  Smith,"  by  his 
mother,  that  he  was  born  on  the  23d 
of  December,  1805,  in  Sharon,  Windsor 


32 


DEDICATION  OF 


county,  Vermont,  on  a  farm  rented 
from  her  father,  Solomon  Mack,  my  ef- 
fort was  to  establish  the  location  of 
this  farm  from  the  records,  and  of  the 
house  from  the  testimony  of  living  wit- 
nesses, and  physical  conditions,  that 
would  go  to  establish  it. 

We  began  with  the  town  land  rec- 
ords of  Sharon,  as  all  transfers  and 
mortgages  of  lands  are  recorded  in  each 
town  by  the  town  clerk,  who  is  cus- 
todian of  the  records.  Mr.  D.  E.  Park- 
hurst,  the  present  incumbent  of  the 
office — who  is  also  a  shoemaker — ac- 
corded every  facility  for  the  search. 

It  was  found  that  Solomon  Mack 
purchased  from  Samuel  Shepard,  2nd,  a 
farm  of  about  one  hundred  acres  on 
the  27th  of  August,  1804,  as  shown  by 
the  following  deed: 

SAMUEL,  SHEPARD,   2ND, 

TO 
SOLOMON  MACK. 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that 
I,  Samuel  Shepard,  2nd,  of  Sharon,  in 
the  county  of  Windsor,  State  of  Ver- 
mont, for  the  consideration  of  eight 
hundred  dollaTs  received  to  my 
full  satisfaction  of  Solomon  Mack  ot 
Tunbridge  in  the  county  of  Orange, 
state  above  said,  have  and  hereby  do 
give,  grant,  bargain,  sell,  release,  alien, 
convey  and  confirm  unto  him  the  said 
Solomon  Mack,  his  heirs  and  assigns, 
the  following  parcel  of  land  in  Sharon 
above  sd.  [said]  described  as  follows, 
being  the  whole  of  the  farm  I  now  live 
on,and  seven  acres  of  land  belonging  to 
the  right  that  Moses  Perkins  was  the 
grantee  of,  being  last  division,  which 
land  is  laid  out  between  the  two  lines 
of  sd.  Sharon  against  Ebenezer  Dewey's 
farm  in  Royalton,  it  being  the  norther- 
ly end  of  sd.  lot  so  laid  out,  the  whole 
of  sd.  land  supposed  to  be  about  one 
hundred  acres  be  the  same  more  or 
less. 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  above  grant- 
ed and  bargained  premises  with  all  the 
privileges  and  appurtenances  thereon 
or  thereunto  belonging  to  him  the  sd. 
Solomon  Mack,  his  heirs  and  assignes 
to  his  and  their  own  proper  use,  benefit 


and  behoof  forever.  Hereby  covenant- 
_ing  for  myself,  my  heirs,  executors  and 
administrators,  with  the  sd.  Solomon 
Mack,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  that  until 
the  ensealing  hereof  I  am  the  sole  own. 
er  of  the  premises  and  that  I  will  war- 
rant and  defend  the  same  against  all 
lawful  claims  whatsoever.  In  witness 
whereof  I  hereunto  set  my  hand  and 
seal  this  27th  day  of  August,  1804. 

SAMUEL,  SHEPARD  2ND. 

(L.  S.) 
In  presence  of 

JOEL  MARSH, 

JOSEPH  SMITH. 

State  of  Vermont,  Windsor  tp.  [town- 
ship], Sharon,  August  27,  1804,  personal- 
ly appeared  Samuel  Shepard,  2nd,  sign- 
er and  sealer  of  the  within  instrument, 
and  acknowledged  the  same  to  be  hi» 
free  act  and  deed  before  me,  Joel 
Marsh,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

August  27,  1804,  rec'd  and  recorded. 

In  tracing  the  title  back,  from  the 
description  contained  in  this  deed, 
it  was  interesting  to  discover 
that  Sharon  town  was  granted 
by  King  George  III  upon  the 
advice  of  his  "well  beloved  Governor 
Benning  Wentworth  of  his  majesty's, 
province  of  Newhamp^hire  to  his  loyal 
and  loving  subjects,  residents  thereof," 
by  charter  dated  Aug.  17,  1761.  The 
survey  disclosed  in  said  town  about 
21,400  acres,  besides)  reservations  for 
highways  and  public  uses,  which  was 
to  be  equally  divided  amonar  68  gran- 
tees. Among  the  latter  the  names  with 
which  the  title  sought  was  connected 
were  John  Downing,  Esq.,  Joseph 
Parkhurst  and  Moses  Perkins. 

In  the  original  allotment  drawings 
were  made  of  the  first  100 -acre  lots,, 
then  of  the  first  40-acre  lots,  then  of 
the  second  100-acre  lots,  then  of  a  fur- 
ther division,  and  finally  a  fourth  or 
last  division,  which  was  accomplished 
by  those  who  still  held  or  had  acquired 
by  purchase  the  rights  of  the  original 
grantees,  "pitching"  upon  or  survey- 
ing such  remaining  pieces,  usually  ad- 
joining the  lots  already  owned,  as  had 
not  been  divided. 

In   this   way    it   appeared     that   the- 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


Solomon  Mack  farm  of  about  100  acres 
had  been  made  up  of  72  acres,  the 
western  part  of  the  original  hundred 
acre  lot  that  John  Downing  was  the 
grantee  of.  Also  of  a  strip  about  25 
rods  wide  running  between  ihe  old  and 
new  lines  of  the  towns  of  Sharon  and 
Royalton.  This  strip  adjoined  the  72 
acres  on  the  west,  and  20  acres  of  it 
was  accredited  to  the  right  that  Jo- 
seph Parkhurst  was  grantee  of  and 
seven  acres  to  the  right  that  Moses 
Perkins  was  the  grantee  of. 

The  above  three  pieces  making  near- 
ly 100  acres  were  consolidated  in  "the 
name  of  Samuel  Shepherd,  2nd,  in  1794. 
The  other  transfers  of  this  farm,  which 
became  the  Mack  farm  and  was  for 
years  afterwards  so  known,  are  shown 
in  the  brief  abstract  which  follows: 

SHARON  TOWN  LAND  RECORDS. 

George  III  by  Benning  Wentworth, 

Governor. 
To  68  Grantees. 

The  Town  of  Sharon.  Aug.  17,  1761. 

21,400  acres. 

John  Downing,  Esqre.  Grantee  Lot  8 
Beginning  at  a  Beech  tree  marked  7 
and  8;  thence  North  40  degrees  East, 
127  Rods  to  a  Black  birch  tree  marked 
8;  thence  South  57  degrees  East  160 
rods  to  a  maple  marked  8;  thence 
South  40  degrees  West  127  rods  to  a 
beech  tree  marked  7  and  8;  thence  to 
the  first  mentioned  bound. 

David  Morse  to  Samuel  Shepard, 
2nd,  7  Nov.,  1794. 

Samuel  Shepard,  2nd.  to  Daniel  Gil- 
bert, 22  Sep.,  1800. 

Daniel  Gilbert  to  Sam'l  Shepard,  2nd. 
27  Aug.,  1804. 

Samuel  Shepard.  2nd,  to  Solomon 
Mack,  27  Aug.,  1804. 

Solomon  Mack  to  Daniel  Gilbert,  27 
Aug.,  1804.  [Mortgage] 

Solomon  Mack  to  Trumon  Miller.  21 
March,  1807. 

Trumon  Miller  to  Solomon  Mack  14 
May,  1807. 

Solomon  Mack  to  Jason  Mack's  heirs, 
20  March,  1810. 

Solomon  Mack  to  Daniel  Gilbert,  11 
May,  1811. 


Lydia  Gilbert  to  Chester  Baxter.  26 
Apl.,  1821. 

Chester  Baxter  to  Solomon  Downer, 
21  May,  1838. 

Solomon  Downer  to  Asahel  P.  White 
1  April,  1839. 

Asahel  P.  White  to  Solomon  Down- 
er, 1  April,  1839,  Mtg. 

Solomon  Downer  to  Harvey  White, 
1  Feb.  1848. 

Harvey  White  and  Solomon  Downer, 
to  Bela  Durkee.  5  Feb.,  1859. 

Bela  Durkee  to  Gustavus  A.  Cady, 
6  Oct.,  1859. 

Gustave  A.  Cady  and  wife  to  Isaac  J. 
Russ,  2  April,  1860. 

Isaac  J.  Russ  to  John  A.  Lesure,  7 
Nov.,  1860. 

Jno.  A.  Lesure  and  wife,  to  Benj.  C. 
Latham,  1  Dec.,  1868. 

B.  C.  Latham  and  wife  to  Maria  E. 
Kent,  23  Aug.,  1892. 

J.  H.  Kent  and  Maria  E.  Kent  to  C. 
H.  Robinson,  3  Nov.,  1902. 

C.  H.  Robinson  and  wife  to  Joseph  F. 
Smith,  Trustee-in-Trust,  23  May,  1905. 

It  appears  that  the  western  boundary 
of  the  Mack  farm  was  the  Sharon  and 
Royalton  town  line,  and  part  of  it  ad- 
joining the  farm  of  Ebenezer  Dewey 
in  Royalton.  A  peculiar  feature  of  the 
latter,  marked  by  the  old  stone  wall  and 
the  custom  of  maintaining  the  division 
fence  is  that  a  corner  24  rods  by  20  rods 
is  taken  out  of  it,  a  corresponding  jog 
is  marked  above  the  northwestern  cor- 
ner of  the  Mack  farm,  by  the  old  stone 
wall,  indicating  that  the  town  line  was 
not  the  real  division  of  farms  on  the 
west,  though  the  records  back  of  Bela 
Durkee's  purchase  in  1859  do  not  pro- 
vide for  this. 

In  running  our  survey  we  took  the 
center  of  the  wall  on  the  town  line 
2,000  feet  to  the  southwest,  and  ran 
north,  bearing  44  degrees,  10  minutes 
east,  this  brought  the  town  line  about 
four  feet  east  of  the  southeast  corner 
of  the  house  in  which  the  Prophet  was 
born.  This  throws  the  whole  of  the 
foundation  in  Royalton,  while  the  tra- 
dition is  that  the  line  ran  through  the 
house,  and  Joseph  was  born  in  the  east 
room  on  the  Sharon  side  of  it.  I  asked 
our  surveyor  what  effect,  allowing  the 


34 


DEDICATION  OF 


bearing  N.  40  E.  described  in  the  origi- 
nal survey  would  have  upon  the  line 
at  the  house,  and  he  replied  as  follows: 

"If  we  were  to  extend  the  town  line 
we  used  up  to  the  southerly  side  of  the 
65-acre  lot  then  set  on  the  bearing  N. 
40  degrees  E.,  it  would  strike  the  old 
house  foundation  a  little  west  of  the 
center  and  thus  confirm  the  tradition 
you  mention,  and  at  some  time  during 
the  past  100  years  that  may  have  been 
done,  without  making  any  account  of 
variations." 

THE   ROYALTON   PART. 

The  search  of  the  records  at  Royal- 
ton  where  Mr.  William  Skinner,  town 
clerk,  rendered  valuable  assistance, 
showed  the  title  back  to  the  original 
grantee  in  the  county  of  Cumberland, 
province  of  New  York.  The  division 
line  between  the  towns  of  Sharon  and 
Royalton  was  also  the  dividing  line  be- 
tween the  provinces  of  New  York  and 
New  Hampshire.  There  was  only  time 
to  transcribe  the  records  from  John  Coy 
who  deeded  to  Bela  Durkee,  23  Septem- 
ber, 1836. 

By  this  deed  to  Durkee  and  the  deed 
of  Harvey  White  and  Solomon  Downer 
to  Durkee  it  is  shown  how  the  lands  in 
Royalton  and  in  Sharon  came  together 
in  one  farm  joining,  the  old  Coy  and 
Mack  farms  together. 

It  is  interesting  to  know  that  this 
Bela  Durkee  married  Eliza  Baker, 
whose  sister,  Zina  Baker,  was  the  wife 
of  William  Huntington,  and  mother  of 
Aunt  Zina  D.  Huntington  Young. 

The  record  of  transfer  from  the  above 
to  the  present  ownership  is  as  follows: 

Bela  Durkee  to  Gustavus  A.  Cady, 
Oct.  6,  1859. 

Gustavus  A.  Cady  to  Isaac  N.  Russ, 
April  29,  1860. 

Isaac  N.  Russ  to  John  A.  Lesure, 
Nov.  8,  1860. 

John  A.  Lesure  and  wife  to  Benjamin 
C.  Latham,  Dec.  1,  1868. 

Benjamin  C.  Latham  and  wife  to 
Maria  E.  Kent,  Aug.  16,  1892. 

J.  H.  and  Maria  E.  Kent  to  C.  H. 
Robinson,  Oct.  17,  1902. 

C.  H.  Robinson  and  wife  to  Joseph  P. 
Smith,  Trustee-in-Trust,  May  23,  1905. 

The      piece      of      tract      selected    out 


of  the  Robinson  farm  of  250 
acres,  comprises  about  46  acres 
of  the  old  Solomon  Mack  farm  in 
Sharon  and  22  of  the  Coy  farm  in  Roy- 
alton. This  was  arrived  at  by  the  de- 
sire to  possess  the  site  of  the  house  in 
which  Joseph  Smith  the  Prophet  wa& 
born  and  enough  to  the  westward  in 
Royalton  to  take  in  the  entire  hill  on 
which  it  stood.  The  corner  referred  to 
above  as  having  come  out  of  the  Eben- 
ezer  Dewey  farm  exactly  provides  for 
this,  so  we  began  our  survey  there 
and  ran  far  enough  northward  so  thai, 
the  north  boundary  would  be  sure  to 
include  the  farm  house  and  barn  foun- 
dation of  what  was  known  as  the  Solo- 
mon Mack  place  on  the  brook,  and  old 
Sharon  road.  This  line  was  run  to  the 
east  boundary  of  the  Robinson  land 
which  was  also  the  last  line  of  the 
Mack  farm  thence  to  the  southeast 
corner  and  back  on  the  southerly 
boundary  of  the  Robinson  land  to 
the  place  of  beginning.  It  was  found 
that  these  lines  embrace  65.73  acres. 

As  the  old  Sharon  road  has  for  years 
been  abandoned  and  there  is  no  ap-. 
proach  to  the  above  from  the  Royalton 
highway,  it  was  desirable  to  provide  for 
this,  by  including  in  the  purchase  a 
tract  two  rods  wide,  running  along  the 
line  of  the  Mclntosh  (formerly  the  Eb- 
enezer  Dewey)  farm  and  the  old  Dewey 
cemetery  from  the  highway  to  the  wes- 
terly boundary  of  the  65-acre  tract, 
comprising  one  and  one-tenth  acres. 

The  Joseph  Smith  farm,  lying  high 
above  any  near  by  water  supply,  1 
bargained  for  two  springs  lying  near 
the  northeasterly  corner  of  the  property , 
from  which  a  pipe  will  convey  an  abun- 
dance of  good  spring  water  for  domestic 
uses  to  any  part  of  the  premises.  There 
is  a  fall  of  80  feet  to  the  foundation  ot 
the  Joseph  Smith  house.  The  springs 
are  on  a  tract  included  in  the  purchase, 
66x136  feet— about  two-tenths  of  an 
acre.  This  brings  the  total  purchase 
up  to  68  acres. 

As  to  the  soundness  of  the  title,  the 
reputable  firm  of  attorneys,  Messrs. 
Tarbell  &  Whitham,  examined  and  ap- 
proved it.  Their  opinion  being  conclu- 
sive, the  purchase  was  made. 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


35 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  PROPHET'S 
BIRTHPLACE. 

The   foundation  stones  of  the  farm 
house  are  still  in  place;  also  the  walls 
of  the  cellar  and  the  hearthstone  and 
door  stone;  some  of  the  stable  founda- 
tion and  much  of  a  stone  wall  that  en- 
closed the  barnyard  and  extended  far 
beyond  to  fence   off  the   orchard  still 
stand.     The  old  well,   now  filled  with 
boulders,   is  still   visible  and   contains 
water.     The  orchard  of  apple  trees  was 
quite   extensive  and  many  of  the   old 
trees,  the  trunks  of  some  of  them  two 
feet    in    diameter,    are    standing    and 
bearing  fruit.     The  blossoms  were  just 
beginning  to  burst  forth  from  the  most 
forward    while    I    was    there.      Dimly 
marked   on   the  hillside   is   the  grass- 
covered  road  that  formerly  led   down 
from  the  farm  house  to  the  old  Shar- 
on road,  along  the  right  bank  of  the 
White  Brook,  a  beautiful  little  stream 
abounding  in  trout,  that  flows  through 
the  property  and  about  equally  divides 
the  lands  of  the  old  Mack  farm.     The 
hill,    so    largely    covered    with    apple 
trees    in    bloom,    surmounted    by    the 
ruins  of    the    farm  house  is  very  pic- 
turesque and  beautiful.     It  is  an  iso- 
lated,   quiet,   lovely  sylvian  spot,    sur- 
rounded by  some  of  the  most  charm- 
ing scenery  of  the   Green  mountains, 
of  which  varied   and   extensive   views 
are    obtained    from    many    points      of 
vantage  on  the  premises.     It  is  prob- 
uble  that  the  place   has  not  changed 
in  its  physical  appearance  for  at  least 
80  years.     It  has  been  known  to  per- 
sons still  living  for  that  time  as  the 
foundation    of    the    house      in     which 
Joseph  Smith  the  Prophet  was  born; 
they    derived    their    knowledge    of    it 
from    older    members    of    their    own 
families  and  neighbors,  who  spoke  fa- 
iniliarly  and  commonly  of  it  as  such. 
I  interviewed  and  took  down  the  tes- 
timony of  some  of  these,  and  have  ar- 
ranged to  procure  that  of  others,  and 
to  have  their  testimonies  recorded  and 
perpetuated  according  to  the  Vermont 


A  niece  of  the  last  Ebenezer  Dewey 
whose  farm  adjoined  the  Smith  farm, 


lives  in  Sharon  village,  gave  me  her 
signed  statement.  The  Ebenezer 
Dewey  family  for  four  generations  all 
named  Ebenezer,  are  buried  in  their 
private  cemetery,  adjoining  our  road- 
vay.  The  first  and  second,  aged  32 
and  80,  were  deacons.  •  The  other  two 
were  aged  80  and  82.  The  four  died 
respectively  in  the  years  1794,  1820, 
1834,  1871. 

The  following  was  given  to  me  while 
sitting  on  the  stone  doorstep  of  the 
Joseph  Smith  birthplace,  on  the  19th 
of  May,  1905: 

TESTIMONY   OF   BENJAMIN   C. 
LATHAM. 

I,  Benjamin  Cole  Latham,  son  of 
Alsop  Latham  and  Sally  Cole,  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  Cole,  who  cleared  the 
first  acre  on  the  old  Haynes  place,  a 
mile  down  the  highway  from  here, 
was  born  in  1824,  in  this  neighborhood, 
and  except  for  about  19  years  between 
1849  and  1868  have  always  lived  here. 

I  knew  Asahel  White,  who  used  to 
live  on  the  Mack  place  in  the  White 
hollow,  and  I  knew  Ebenezer  Dewey 
the  third,  who  died  in  1834,  aged  80 
years,  and  Ebenezer  Dewey  fourth, 
who  died  in  1871,  aged  82  years,  both 
of  whom  were  born  on,  occupied  and 
lived  on  the  farm  adjoining  to  the  west 
and  south  of  the  Joseph  Smith  farm, 
which  I  owned  for  over  23  years — 1868 
to  1892.  I  have  often  heard  the  lat- 
ter Dewey,  recollect  also  to  have  heard 
his  father  speak  familiarly  of  the  place 
as  being  the  home  of  Joseph  Smith, 
and  the  birthplace  of  Joseph  Smith, 
the  Prophet  The  cellar  and  founda- 
tion now  standing  on  the  hill,  a  few 
rods  from  the  old  Dewey  farm,  was  al- 
ways pointed  out  by  them  as  the  ruins 
of  the  house  in  which  he  was  born. 
They  also  referred  to  the  farm  as  the 
old  Mack  farm,  and  the  elder  Dewey 
often  spoke  of  Solomon  Mack  as  be- 
ing of  a  fine  family.  The  Ebenezers 
Dewey  were  always  considered  the 
best  people,  and  the  bodies  of  four 
generations  of  them  lie  in  the  old 
cemetery  along  the  line  of  my  old 
farm.  There  is  not  the  least  doubt 


36 


DEDICATION  OF 


about  this  old  cellar  being  the  place 
where  Joseph  Smith  was  born.  I  have 
always  known  it  and  so  have  the  peo- 
ple all  about  here.  I  heard  the  elder 
Dewey  say  that  Mack  lived  there  be- 
fore and  after  Joseph  Smith  lived 
in  it;  and  I  have  heard  Lieut.  Harri- 
son Dewey,  who  was  born  and  lived 
in  the  old  Dewey  place  for  90  years 
(he  died  in  1899)  speak  of  the  Smiths 
and  Macks  living  in  the  place  on  the 
hill.  He  had  a  wonderful  memory, 
and  told  many  things  about  these  peo- 
ple whom  he  knew  about  from  the 
common  talk  of  his  own  family  and 
neighbors.  If  you  had  seen  him  10 
years  ago  when  you  were  here  he 
could  have  told  you  many  things. 

I  bought  the  farm  from  Lesure  in 
1868  and  lived  on  it  in  peaceable  pos- 
session until  1892,  when  I  sold  it  to 
Kent.  It  was  formerly  owned  by  Bela 
Durkee,  who  was  my  wife's  father.  His 
wife  was  Eliza  Baker,  sister  to  Zlna 
Baker,  who  had  a  twin  sister,  Lina, 
who  was  the  wife  of  William  Hunting- 
ton  and  the  mother  of  Zina  D.,  Dlmick 
B.,  and  the  other  "Mormon"  Hunting- 
tons. 

I  remember  when  Bela  Durkee  bought 
the  Mack  farm  from  White  and  Doner 
and  that  he  lived  on  the  Royalton  part 
in  the  same  house  that  I  occupied.  He 
took  the  White  'house  and  barn  down. 
The  latter  is  Robinson's  horse  barn 
now,  being  the  same  as  I  rebuilt  it.  I 
always  supposed  that  the  apple  orchard 
was  planted  by  Solomon  Mack,  th& 
trees  were  old  when  I  came  on  th& 
property.  Burbank,  who  married  a 
Dewey,  lived  on  the  west  on  the  old 
Dewey  farm,  now  Mackintosh's  (since? 
last  fall)  on  the  North  Drew,  then 
Sherlock,  and  Doubleday,  who  had  it  of 
Dole  to  the  east;  on  the  southeast 
Carl  Jones  and  Mosher. 

BENJAMIN  COLE  LATHAM. 
Witness:    JUNIUS  F.  WELLS. 

I  had  met  Mr.  Harvey  Smith  in  1894, 
when  I  first  visited  Sharon,  and  he  then 
told  me  the  same  story  and  perhaps 
more  than  is  contained  in  the  follow- 
ing. He  is  hale  and  hearty  mentally 
and  physically,  and  gave  me  this: 


TESTIMONY    OF    HARVEY    SMITH. 

Sharon,  Windsor  county,  Vermont, 
22nd  May,  1905.— I,  Harvey  Smith,  was 
born  in  Tunbridge,  6  Nov.,  1824,  and 
have  lived  on  this  place  since  I  was  15 
months  old,  within  a  mile  and  a  half 
of  the  place  where  Joseph  Smith  was 
born. 

I  was  brought  up  by  David  Ames, 
who  lived  on  this  place  and  died  in 
1843,  aged  84  years,  and  had  lived  here 
since  he  was  a  young  man.  I  have 
heard  him  speak  of  the  Smiths  as  living 
in  the  place  on  the  hill.  My  mother 
died,  and  father  put  us  out,  two  boys. 
and  three  girls,  and  I  was  given  to 
Ames.  Always  heard  them  talk  about 
the  place  as  being  the  Mack  place,  and 
they  told  of  Uncle  Dan  Mack  speaking 
about  the  time  to  plant  potatoes.  He 
said  most  any  time  would  do— May  or 
June,  and  Fourth  of  July  pretty  gooa 
time,  but  October  would  be  a  little  late. 

I  remember  old  Ebenezer  .Dewey, 
when  he  died  in  1834,  and  I  knew  1m 
son  Eb.,  who  died  in  1871.  It  was  the 
common  talk  among  them,  after  the 
"Mormons"  came  up,  and  always  that 
Joseph  Smith  was  born  in  the  house 
that  stood  over  the  cellar  and  founda- 
tions which  you  now  see,  and  which 
have  been  just  as  they  are  now  ever 
since  I  can  remember.  The  Dewey 
farm  corners  on  the  old  Mack  or  Smith 
place,  the  upper  north  line  of  Deweys 
being  by  the  cemetery.  I  think  I  have 
heard  Eb.  Dewey  say  he  went  to  school 
with  the  Smith  boys. 

The  old  Asahel  White  place  was 
known  as  the  Mack  farm  before  Whitfc 
had  it.  Daniel  G.  Mack  lived  there,  and 
raised  his  family  there.  His  son,  Ly- 
man  Mack,  married  a  cousin  of  mine 
named  Wealthy  Merchant.  They  lived 
in  the  Squire  Dewey  or  Burbank  place 
for  a  time;  don't  know  what  became  of 
them. 

I  remember  when  Coy  owned  the 
place  Robinson  lives  in,  and  after  him 
Bela  Durkee,  who  lived  there  for  a 
long  time. 

The  town  line  between  Royalton  and 
Sharon  was  supposed  to  run  through 
the  old  Smith  house,  and  they  used  to 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


37 


say  Smith  was  born  in  the  side  over 
the  Sharon  line.  There  is  no  doubt 
abcut  that  being  the  place  where  he 
was  born,  for  Eb.  Dewey  the  elder,  was 
over  fifty  years  old  and  Eb.  Dewey  the 
younger,  who  died  in  1871,  was  16,  and 
they  both  always  said  that  was  the 

place. 

HARVEY  SMITH. 

Witness:    JUNIUS  F.  WELLS. 
FAVORABLE     SENTIMENT. 

The  feeling  of  friendly  interest  shown 
by  the  people  I  met  at  Royalton  and 
Sharon  made  the  work  there  very 
pleasant,  and  the  comments  of  the  lo- 
cal newspapers  and  jof  the  Boston 
Herald,  which  published  a  three-columu 
writeup,  manifested  a  kind  and  shrewd- 
ly favorable  disposition  towards  the 
purchase  and  any  improvement  that 
may  be  made  upon  the  place.  The  pro- 
prietors of  the  hotels  at  both  towns, 
the  leading  business  men  and  public 
spirited  citizens  generally  are  most 
eagerly  looking  forward  to  the  consum- 
mation of  the  project  outlined.  They 
readily  recognize  the  propriety  of  a 
prosperous  community  such  as  the  Lat- 
ter-day Saints  have  become,  in  doing 
honor  to  the  memory  of  the  founder  of 
their  faith. 

Sharon  village  is  an  exceedingly  pret- 
ty summer  resort  on  the  banks  of  the 
White  river.  It  is  visited  by  many  res- 
idents of  New  England  cities,  as  indeed 
are  all  the  villages  along  this  famously 
interesting  stream.  It  is  not  far  to  the 
White  mountain  resorts  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  to  the  most  picturesque 
mountain  and  lake  summer  homes  of 
Vermont.  It  is  a  delightful  region  in 
which  to  spend  a  few  weeks  of  the  hoi. 
season.  In  the  early  spring  the  tapping 
of  the  maple  trees,  boiling  the  sap  and 


sugaring  off  draws  hundreds  of  people 
for  a  few  days;  who  are  again  attracted 
in  the  autumn  by  the  abounding  game. 
More  deer  are  taken  during  the  10  days 
open  season  at  the  end  of  October,  in 
Sharon  and  neighboring  towns  than  in 
any  other  part  of  the  state. 

Being  on  the  main  line  of  the  Central 
Vermont  railway,  by  which  through 
trains  in  connection  with  the  Grand 
Trunk  system  are  run  from  Chicago  to 
Boston,  it  will  be  very  convenient  for 
travelers  from  the  west,  especially 
missionaries  in  going  to  and  returning: 
from  foreign  missions,  to  stop  over  and 
spend  a  day  or  two  at  this  place,  which 
will  forever  possess  an  interest  for 
them  as  the  birthplace  of  one  whom 
they  honor  and  revere.  In  the  improve- 
ments proposed  some  accommodation 
will  be  provided  for  such  visitors. 
There  is  however,  nothing  in  the  exag- 
erated  dreams  of  some  newspaper 
specials  to  justify  the  thought  of  estab- 
lishing there  a  holy  shrine,  or  a  "Mor- 
mon" mecca,  to  which  tens  of  thou- 
sands will  make  the  annual  pilgrimage. 

A  proper  respect  for  the  memory 
of  a  man  whose  life's  work  has  led  to 
the  establishment  of  a  Church  of  sound 
faith  and  a  community  of  integrity 
numbering  three  or  four  hundred  thou- 
sand living  adherents,  is  reason  enough 
why,  in  the  days  of  their  prosperity, 
they  should  seek  to  secure  the  place 
where  he  was  born,  and  to  set  up  there 
a  monument  and  memorial  that  shall 
testify  to  mankind  of  the  love  and 
respect  in  which  he  is  held. 

It  will  so  be  received  by  the  intelli- 
gent people  of  the  world;  and  it  will  be 
a  source  of  happiness  to  the  followers 
of  Joseph  Smith  that  they  have  done 
this  honor  to  his  memory,  as  a  Prophet 
of  God,  in  this  hundredth  anniversary 
of  his  birth. 


South  Royalton,  Vermont, 

Saturday  Evening,  December  23d,    1905. 


At  the  close  of  the  exercises  at  the 
cottage  in  Sharon  the  party  returned 
to  South  Royalton  where  in  the  even- 
ing services  were  held  in  Woodards' 
Hall,  and  addresses  were  made  by 
the  brethren  as  follows: 

PRESIDENT  JOSEPH  F.  SMITH. 

It  is  not  my  intention  to  occupy  very 
much  of  the  time  this  evening,  as  there 
are  a  number  of  our  brethren  present 
whom  I  would  like  to  hear,  and  I  am 
sure  you  also  would  be  pleased  to  hear 
them;  but  I  desire  to  express  my  pleas- 
ure and  satisfaction,  after  the  experi- 
ences of  this  day,  at  our  visit  to 
Sharon  and  the  services  held  at  the 
little  cottage  erected  near  the  monu- 
ment which  has  been  reared  in  honor 
and  memory  of  one  whom  we,  together 
with  many  thousands  of  others,  hold  in 
great  reverence  and  respect.  We  honor 
the  name  of  Joseph  Smith.  There  are 
many  in  £he  world  who  know  very  lit- 
tle about  him,  and  who  are  prone  to 
accept  the  slanderous  reports  and  mis- 
representations that  are  circulated  con- 
cerning him,  and  thereby  are  sadly  mis- 
led with  reference  to  his  true  character 
and  mission,  and  the  great  work  whose 
foundations  were  laid  through  him.  We 
believe  that  he  was  instrumental  in  the 
hands  of  the  Lord  of  restoring  to  the 
earth  the  fulness  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ— the  same  Gospel  that  Christ  and 
His  disciples  preached  in  the  meridian 
of  tJme,  and  the  record  of  which  is  in 
part  handed  down  to  us  in  the  New 
Testament.  The  New  Testament  is  es- 
pecially cherished  and  referred  to  by 
all  the  Latter-day  Saints  in  good  stand- 
ing. Wo  also  cherish  the  Old  Testa- 


ment. The  Bible  as  accepted  by  every 
Christian  sect— King  James  translation 
—is  the  Bible  of  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints.  We  have 
no  other  Bible.  But  in  addition  to  the 
Bible  we  have  a  book  containing  the 
record  of  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  this 
continent,  written  by  servants  of  the 
Lord  on  this  continent  under  divine  di- 
rection, by  the  same  spirit  and  for  the 
same  purpose  that  the  New  Testament 
was  written  by  the  disciples  of  Christ 
on  the  eastern  continent.  It  contains 
the  same  Gospel  and  a  description  of 
the  same  ordinances  that  the  New  Tes- 
tament sets  forth,  only  in  plainer  and 
fuller  terms.  We  have  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  the  Bible  has  been  translat- 
ed by  uninspired  men.  They  translated 
it  by  their  own  wisdom,  and  gave  in- 
terpretations to  some  part  of  it  which 
hai  mortized  with  their  own  peculiar 
views  and  suited  their  own  convictions, 
which  interpretations,  we  believe,  are 
not  strictly  in  accordance  with  the  spirit 
in  which  those  instructions  and  prin- 
ciples were  laid  down  by  the  Savior  and 
His  disciples.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
Book  of  Mormon  was  translated  by  the 
rift  and  power  of  God,  through  the  in- 
strumentality of  a  young  man;  not  by  a 
learned  man,  a  man  of  letters,  but  by 
an  unlettered,  unsophisticated,  innocent 
boy!  And  that  unlettered,  unsophisti- 
cated, innocent  boy  was  no  other  than 
Joseph  Smith.  He  had  not  the  wisdom, 
the  intelligence  nor  the  skill  of  him- 
self to  translate  into  the  English  lan- 
guage the  inscriptions  upon  the  plates 
that  were  hid  away  by  the  ancient  in- 
habitants of  this  continent.  He  never 
claimed  that  he  did  translate  those  an- 
cient characters  by  his  own  wisdom. 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


39 


On  the  contrary,  he  maintained  that  he 
did  it  by  the  gift  and  power  of  God  un- 
to him.  According  to  the  testimony  of 
the  three  witnesses,  which  you  will  find 
in  that  book,  the  Lord  declared  by  His 
own  voice  that  it  "was  translated  by 
the  gift  and  power  of  God,"  and  they 
were  commanded  to  bear  record  of  it. 
There  may  be  typographical  errors  in 
the  book,  as  there  are  in  most  *>ooks; 
but  those  are  not  defects  of  the  book  :t- 
self,  nor  are  they  defects  of  the  inspira- 
tion of  the  translator;  they  are  the  de- 
fects of  men.  And  these  imperfections 
do  not  affect  the  truths  contained  in  the 
book.  Therefore,  we  claim  that  the 
doctrines  of  Christ,  which  He  pro- 
claimed to  the  inhabitants  of  this  con- 
tinent after  His  resurrection  from  the 
dead,  and  which  are  recorded  in  the 
Book  of  Mormon,  are  more  clear,  more 
perfect,  more  simple,  and  more  easily 
comprehended  than  the  same  doctrines 
as  they  are  laid  down,  in  many  in- 
stances, in  the  New  Testament.  The 
Book  of  Mormon  we  do  not  claim  to  be 
the  Bible,  nor  to  take  the  place  of  the 
Bible.  It  is  simply  a  history  of  God's 
dealings  with  another  people,,  as  the 
Bible  is  a  history  of  God's  dealings  with 
the  children  of  Israel  among  whom 
Jesus  and  His  disciples  labored  while  in 
the  world.  In  the  Book  of  Mormon  the 
ordinances  of  the  Gospel  are  explained 
in  the  greatest  possible  simplicity.  Tak? 
the  principle  of  baptism,  for  example, 
as  set  forth  in  the  Book  of  Mormon. 
There  is  no  possible  chance  for  a  va- 
riety of  opinion  in  relation  to  that  or- 
dinance. The  Book  of  Mormon  explains 
it  perfectly.  It  is  to  be  done  by  im- 
mtersion,  the  candidate  being  buried 
with  Christ  in  baptism,  and  coming  up 
out  of  the  liquid  grave  to  a  newness  of 
life.  There  is  no  mistaking  the  meaning 
of  that,  and  no  possibility  of  any  di- 
vision of  sentiment  with  reference  to 
that  one  principle.  But  in  the  New  Tes- 
tament this  principle  is  set  forth  in  such 
a  way  that  it  has  given  rise  to  a  va- 
riety of  opinions  among  men,  and  there 
is  a  difference  of  views  among  believ- 
ers in  the  Bible  as  to  the  principle  of 
baptism,  arising  from  the  fact  that  it  is 
not  stated  so  clearly  and  simply  as  it  is 
in  the  Book  of  Mormon.  The  Book  of 


Mormon  teaches  faith  in  God  and  in  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  It  teaches  repent- 
ance of  sin,  baptism  for  the  remission 
of  sin,  the  laying  on  of  hands  for  the 
redeption  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the 
•resurrection  of  the  dead.  It  teaches 
faithful  devotion  to  those  principles 
which  are  right,  honorable,  just  and 
true,  and  which  are  in  every  respect 
calculated  to  exalt  mankind,  to  lead 
them  nearer  unto  the  Lord,  and  to  make 
them  become  like  unto  Him. 

In  addition  to  the  Bible  and  the  Book 
of  Mormon,  we  have  the  revelations 
given  to  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smitn, 
compiled  in  a  book.  It  does  not  contain 
all  of  the  revelations,  but  a  large  num- 
ber of  them,  and  in  them  we  have  many 
precious,  glorious  and  exalted  principles 
revealed,  which  were  new  to  the  world. 
For  instance,  when  Joseph  Smith  came 
upon  this  sphere  of  action  ,the  Chris- 
tian world  believed  it  was  necessary  to 
baptize  infants,  and  that  if  they  died 
without  baptism  they  would  go  di- 
rectly to  the  bottomless  pit.  I  have 
heard,  in  the  course  of  my  life,  min- 
isters teach  the  doctrine  that  there 
were  little  children  weltering  in  the 
flames  of  hell.  The  doctrine  was  also 
taught  then— and  I  fear  it  is  today  to 
a  great  extent— that  the  murderer,  if 
he  will  only  confess  the  name  of 
Christ,  will  be  saved;  that  his  mere 
expression  of  belief  in  Jesus  is  suffi- 
cient to  warrant  him  a  passport  di- 
rectly 'into  the  bosom  of  Abraham. 
Joseph  Smith  exploded  these  foolish 
notions,  and  taught  the  doctrine  that 
little  children  were  redeemed  by  the 
blood  of  Christ  from  before  the  founda- 
tion of  the  world;  that  they  were  in- 
nocent, and  would  not  be  punished,  be- 
cause they  could  not  be  held  account- 
able for  the  deeds  done  in  the  flesh. 
Joseph  Smith  taught  the  doctrine  that 
all  men  would  be  judged  according  to 
their  works,  and  that  they  would  be 
rewarded  or  condemned  according  to 
their  own  conduct,  and  not  for  the  sin 
of  their  forefathers.  If  they  did  wick- 
edly, they  would  be  condemned  for 
their  wickedness;  if  they  did  righteous- 
ly, they  would  be  rewarded  according- 
ly. 


40 


DEDICATION  OP 


These  are  doctrines  that  were  enun- 
ciated   by    the   Prophet    Joseph    Smith 
in    the    days    of    his    youth.       One    of 
the   most    glorious    principles    revealed 
by  Joseph   Smith  was   the  redemption 
of  our  dead.      It  was  new  to  the  world* 
then,    and   is    known    very   little   now; 
for  it  seems  almost  impossible  to  per- 
suade even  honest  men  and  women  that 
this  is  one  of  the  most  important  doc- 
trines   that   can   affect   the  welfare  of 
the  human  family.      This  doctrine  was 
revealed   in   fulfillment   of   the   predic- 
tions   of    ancient    prophets,    {that    the 
hearts  of  the  fathers  should  be  turned 
to  the  children,  and  the  hearts  of  the 
children  to  the  fathers.      It  was     ab- 
solutely necessary   that  the  hearts   of 
the  children  should  be  turned  unto  their 
fathers;  for  they  cannot  be  made  per- 
fect   without    us,    and    we    can    never 
be  made  perfect  or  be  completely  hap- 
py  without   them.       The   Prophet   Jo- 
seph Smith  enunciated  the  doctrine  of 
love  between  parents  and  children,  be- 
tween  husbands   and     wives,    between 
brothers  and  sisters.       He  has  taught 
us   that   these   principles   are    essential 
to  progress  in  this  life  and  exaltation 
in  the  life  to  come.       He  has   shown 
to  us   that   it  is  necessary  that  those 
who   have   died   without   a   knowledge 
of  the  Gospel  must  be  judged  accord- 
ing to  those  principles  of  justice  which 
apply   to    men   in   the   flesh.       If   they 
have  died  without  a  knowledge  of  the 
law,  they  cannot  be  judged  by  the  law, 
but  must  be  judged  as  those  that  have 
not    received    law.       Therefore,     those 
ordinances  that  have  to  be  rjerformed 
for  the  living  in  order  to  prepare  them 
to  become  heirs  of  God  and  joint  heirs 
with   Jesus    Christ,   must   also   be  per- 
formed   for    those    that    are    dead,    in 
order  that  they,  too,  may  be  judged  in 
the  same  way.     And  it  is  ffiven  unto 
the  living  to  act  vicariously  for  those  of 
their  kindred  and  loved  ones  who  have 
passed    behind    the    veil    without    the 
knowledge    of    the    Gospel.       Thus    by 
obedience   to  the  laws  and  ordinances 
of  the  Gospel  on  the  part  of  the  chil- 
dren the  fathers  and  mothers  and  kind- 
red who  have  died  without  a  knowledge 
of    the    Gospel    may   be   brought   to   a 


knowledge  of  it,  that  they  may  be 
judged  according  to  men  in  the  flesh 
and  live  according  to  God  in  the  spirit, 
inasmuch  as  all  men  are  required  to  be 
baptized  for  the  remission  of  sin,  it  is 
necessary  for  the  living  to  be  baptized 
for  the  dead.  Little  children  are  not 
responsible  for  sin,  because  they  are 
not  of  accountable  age.  Joseph  Smith 
taught  that  children  should  be  bap- 
tized when  they  reach  the  age  of  ac- 
countability before  God,  when  they 
can  understand  right  from  wrong,  and 
when  they  can  comprehend  principle. 
Not  until  then  are  children  responsible 
before  the  Lord.  From  that  time  on, 
however,  they  are  held  responsible.and 
they  will  have  to  account  for  the  deeds 
done  in  the  flesh. 

These  are  some  of  the  basic  princi- 
ples of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  that 
have  been  revealed  anew  to  the  world 
through  the  instrumentality  of  Joseph 
Smith.  For  my  part,  this  principle  of 
the  redemption  of  the  dead  is  one  of 
the  most  glorious  of  the  Gospel.  What 
enjoyment  could  I  have  in  the  king- 
dom of  God  if  I  knew  that  my  father, 
my  mother,  my  brothers,  or  my  sisters, 
were  cast  out  forever  from  the  presence 
of  God,  weltering  in  darkness,  and 
gnashing  their  teeth  in  sorrow  and 
anguish?  Should  not  the  parents  have 
affection  for  their  children?-  Should  not 
husbands  hiave  affection  for  their 
wives,  and  wives  for  their  husbands? 
Should  they  not  be  united  together  by 
the  authority  and  power  of  God,  that 
they  may  be  bound  together  for  time 
and  for  eternity?  This  was  another 
great  principle  that  Joseph  Smith 
made  known.  He  taught  that  hus- 
bands and  wives,  in  order  that  they 
might  be  together  in  the  world  to 
come,  would  haye  to  be  sealed  together 
by  the  power  of  God,  and  not  by  the 
power 'of  man.  And  in  this  connection, 
the  Almighty,  through  Joseph  Smith, 
restored  the  holy  Priesthood,  which  is 
nothing  more  nor  less  than  the  au- 
thority of  God  given  unto  man,  by 
which  man  can  act  in  the  name  of  the 
Father  and  of  the  Son  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  Joseph  Smith  taught  us 
also  that  children  born  of  parents 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


41 


who  had  not  been  thus  sealed  would 
have  to  be  adopted  and  sealed  unto 
their  parents  in  order  to  come  under  the 
bond  of  the  new  and  everlasting  cove- 
nant and  inherit  the  rights  and  privi- 
leges pertaining  thereto. 

There  are  many  other  principles  that 
were  made  known  through  Joseph 
Smith,  but  I  do  not  desire  to  take 
time  to  refer  to  more.  I  felt  like 
saying  this  much  in  reference  to  the 
mission  and  the  divine  principles  re- 
vealed through  the  instrumentality  of 
the  man  in  whose  memory  we  have 
this  day  dedicated  a  monument  on 
the  place  of  his  birth.  We  honor,  love 
and  respect  him  as  a  man  of  God.  We 
know  that  he  was  innocent  of  any 
crime.  We  know  he  was  pure,  hon- 
est and  upright'  in  his  life,  and  that 
his  testimony  was  sealed  with  his 
blood.  In  other  words,  he  became  a 
martyr  for  the  truth  which  the  Lord 
revealed  to  the  world  through  him. 

I  would  say  further  to  our  friends 
who  are  not  of  our  faith— those  who 
have  been  friendly  to  the  enterprise 
that  has  been  completed  here  by  one 
of  our  brethren— that  while  we  honor 
this  man,  revere  his  memory,  and 
cherish  him  as  a  revelator,  a  seer,  a 
servant  of  the  Lord,  gifted  of  God 
to  perform  the  mission  he  did,  we  do 
not  expect  other  men  to  hold  him  in 
the  same  reverence  as  we  do,  unless  by 
studying  his  life  and  mission  they 
honestly  and  sincerely  become  con- 
vinced of  the  truth  of  his  divine  call- 
ing. We  never  urge  any  man  or  wo- 
man to  become  a  member  of  the  Church 
of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints. 
,  We  simply  offer  the  Gospel.  We  state 
our  faith  and  hope  to  the  world,  and 
leave  it  with  mankind  to  receive  or 
reject  it,  according  to  their  pleasure. 
No  man  or  woman  has  ever  been  forced 
into  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of 
Latter-day  Saints.  No  man  or  wo- 
man has  ever  been  held  in  it  who 
desired  to  be  separated  from  it.  Among 
the  Latter-day  Saints  all  men  have 
their  freedom,  no  matter  where  they 
live  or  what  their  conditions  may  be 
To  me  it  is  very  strange  indeed  that 
there  should  be  so  much  extreme  ill 


feeling  manifested  by  the  world 
against  Joseph  Smith.  He  wronged  no 
man.  I  am  a  witness  of  that,  for  I 
know  his  life.  I  have  seen  him  in  the 
flesh,  and  I  have  read  of  his  sayings. 
I  have  read  the  revelations  that  the 
Lord  gave  to  him.  I  am  familiar  with 
his  work,  and  I  know  that  he  never 
wronged  a  living  soul.  He  did  not  in- 
jure his  fellowmen,  but  he  did  much 
to  exalt  them.  And  yet,  the  strange 
part  of  it  is  that  people  who  are  ab- 
solutely ignorant  of  him  should  enter- 
tain the  most  bitter,  vindictive  and 
wicked  feelings  towards  him  that  it  is 
possible  for  men  to  feel.  I  ask  myself, 
Why  is  this?  Men  do  not  feel  that  way, 
as  a  rule,  towards  impostors,  or  to 
the  promoters  of  new,  man-made 
religious  organizations.  But,  strange 
to  say,  they  nearly  always  become 
enraged  when  the  name  of  the  Prophet 
Joseph  Smith  is  mentioned!  While, 
however,  this  is  strange  from  a  natural 
standpoint,  it  is  only  in  accordance 
with  the  promise  given  to  him  in  the 
beginning  by  one  of  the  heavenly  mes- 
sengers sent  to  instruct  him.  He  told 
him  that  his  name  should  be  had  for 
good  and  for  evix  throughout  the 
world;  and  when  this  promise  was  giv- 
en he  was  nothing  but  an  obscure  boy. 
That  statement  was  made  public  in 
that  early  day,  when  it  was  not  possi- 
ble, according  to  human  reasoning,  for 
a  boy  so  obscure  and  insignificant  to 
ever  become  so  widely  known  that  his 
name  should  be  had  for  good  and  for 
evil  throughout  the  world.  And  yet  we 
have  seen  that  prediction  fulfilled  to 
the  very  letter.  In  every  land  where 
this  Gospel  has  been  preached,  and  it 
has  been  preached  in  nearly  every  na- 
tion the  name  of  Joseph  Smith  has 
been  held  by  those  who  have  re- 
ceived his  testimony  in  the  greatest 
honor  and  love,  while  those  who  have 
rejected  his  testimony  have  held  it  in 
the  highest  possible  contempt. 

I  want  to  express  my  pleasure  and 
my  gratitude  to  the  people  of  this  lo- 
cality—the birthplace  of  my  ancestors— 
where  many  noble  men  have  had  their 
birth;  but  providence  has  pushed  them 
out  from  the  hills  of  Vermont  into  the 


42 


DEDICATION  OF 


broad  world  and  made  them  renowned 
because  of  the  work  they  were  chosen 
to  do.  We  cannot  forget  that  they  had 
their  origin  in  the  hills  of  Vermont. 
Such  men  as  Joseph  Smith  and  his 
brothers,  Brigham  Young  and  his 
brothers,  and  many  others  that  I  might 
name,  who  were  born  in  this  and  neigh- 
boring states,  and  who  have  become  re- 
nowned and  prominent  in  their  callings 
in  connection  with  "Mormonism." 

Let  me  say  to  my  frieds  here  tonight, 
that  the  foundation  of  the  work  laid  by 
the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith  was  laid  in 
eternal  truth.  It  cannot  be  overthrown. 
It  is  like  the  house  built  on  the  rock. 
The  storms  may  beat  upon  it,  the  rains 
may  descend,  the  tempests  may  come, 
the  hearts  of  men  may  be  stirred  up  to 
anger  and  to  persecution  against  it; 
but  it  is  as  firm  as  the  everlasting  hills, 
because  it  is  built  upon  the  truth. 
Honesty,  virtue,  purity  of  life,  faith  in 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  in  His  resur- 
rection, obedience  to  the  command- 
ments of  God,  are  cardinal  principles 
of  our  belief.  We  know  that  the  doc- 
trine is  true.  We  know  that  as  in 
Adam  all  die,  so  in  Christ  shall  all  be 
made  alive.  We  believe  in  the  doctrine 
of  the  resurrection.  It  is  taught  in  the 
Book  of  Mormon  with  such  plainness 
and  force  that  it  is  impossible  for  those 
who  believe  in  the  book  to  doubt.  The 
object  of  "Mormonism"  is  to  benefit 
mankind.  Obedience  to  it  makes  good 
men  better,  and  bad  men  good.  No 
man  dare  continue  in  wrongdoing  and 
still  claim  membership  in  the  Church 
of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints. 
That  is  one  of  the  distinctive  features 
of  our  people,  and  of  this  work. 

To  my  brethren  and  sisters  here  I 
say,  the  Lord  bless  you.  You  who  are 
studying  various  branches  of  education 
and  preparing  yourselves  for  your 
chosen  professions,  the  Lord  bless  you 
and  help  you  to  honor  the  calling  to 
which  you  have  been  called,  and  to  be 
true  and  faithful  to  the  doctrine  you 
have  espoused.  Do  unto  others  as  you 
would  have  others  do  unto  you.  Keep 
yourselves  pure  and  unspotted  from 
the  world.  Do  not  lose  your  faith;  let 
it  be  ever  strong  and  clear  in  your 


minds  that  God  has  spoken  from  the 
heavens.  We  have  embraced  that  doc- 
trine, and  we  have  been  benefited  by 
its  reception,  and  we  know  it.  Let  us 
build  thereon  our  hopes  and  establish 
ourselves  for  time  and  for  all  eternity. 
May  God  bless  this  congregation.  May 
'  He  bless  you,  my  friends,  my  broth- 
ers, my  sisters— you  who  have  decreed 
in  your  hearts  to  serve  the  Lord  and 
to  do  right— from  this  time  henceforth 
and  forever,  and  make  you  equal  to 
every  emergency  in  your  life  and  to 
every  duty  and  responsibility  that  rests 
upon  you.  This  is  my  prayer  for  you, 
one  and  all,  in  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ.  Amen. 

PRESIDENT  ANTHON  H.  LUND. 

It  affords  me  much  pleasure  to  be 
present  on  this  occasion  and  to  have 
beheld  what  we  have  seen  today.  I 
rejoice  in  the  fact  that  a  monument 
has  been  erected  to  the  memory  of  one 
whom  we,  as  Latter-day  Saints,  revere 
so  much.  If  the  anniversary  of  his 
birth  had  been  in  the  summer  time, 
a  great  many,  no  doubt,  would  have 
come  here  to  take  part  in  the  dedica- 
tion of  the  monument;  but  as  it  is  in 
midwinter  we  did  not  encourage  many 
to  come,  fearing  it  would  be  so  cold. 
I  was  pleased  to  see  so  many  of  our 
friends  present  at  the  dedication  from 
this  neighborhood;  it  showed  interest 
on  their  part.  While  they  do  not  be- 
lieve with  us  in  the  divinity  of  the  mis- 
sion of  Joseph  Smith,  still  it  is  evident, 
from  what  I  have  heard  them  express, 
that  they  respect  our  belief.  The  re- 
marks of  Dr.  Pish  showed  that  he  took 
an  unbiased  view  of  the  situation,  and 
I  believe  that  the  people  here  general- 
ly are  tolerant  and  broadminded 
enough  to  respect  the  beliefs  and  feel- 
ings of  others.  As  you  have  heard,  we 
believe  him  to  be  a  prophet  of  God, 
and  we  are  pleased  to  see  you  respect 
us  in  this.  And  now  we  leave  that 
monument  in  your  midst,  with  the 
hope  that  you  will  feel  it  is  placed 
there  in  trust.  Many  will  come  here 
to  see  it,  and  even  as  a  financial  mat- 
ter it  will  be  a  benefit  to  this  place.  I 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


43' 


hope  to  see  the  hill  made  into  a  nice 
park.  The  cottage  there  will  hold 
quite  a  number,  and  others  may  be 
built,  so  that  it  can  be  a  pleasant  re- 
sort in  summer  time. 

I  have  said  that  we  believe  Joseph 
Smith  to  be  a  prophet  of  God.  The 
Lord  has  given  me  a  testimony  for 
myself  that  he  was  a  true  prophet, 
raised  up  to  introduce  this  great  work. 
Here  let  me  say  that  the  work  in 
which  we  are  engaged  is  the  prepara- 
tory work  for  the  second  coming  of 
Christ.  We  believe  that  that  event  is 
near  at  hand,  and  that  before  He 
comes  many  great  events  are  to  take 
place  upon  the  earth.  Joseph  Smith's 
mission  was  to  introduce  the  work 
necessary  to  prepare  mankind  for  the 
coming  of  Christ.  This  is  the  mission 
that  the  Latter-day  Saints  are  engaged 
in.  Not  only  have  we  a  testimony  in 
regard  to  the  Prophet  Joseph,  but  the 
Scriptures  also  bear  record  of  him. 
There  are  many  evidences  that  speak 
for  the  truth  of  what  he  said.  The 
first  hymn  that  was  sung  here  tonight 
relates  in  beautiful  words  his  first 
vision.  He  was  then  14  years  of 
age.  Three  years  after  that  he  re- 
ceived his  second  vision.  The  Angel 
Moroni  visited  him  three  times  in  one 
night,  told  him  of  the  records  that 
were  hid  in  a  hill  in  New  York  state, 
and  explained  the  Scriptures  to  him. 
One  passege  of  Scripture  that  the 
young  boy  was  instructed  in  by  the 
angel  is  to  be  found  in  the  last  chap- 
ter of  Malachi.  It  reads: 

"Behold,  I  will  send  you  Elijah  the 
prophet  before  the  coming  of  the  great 
and  dreadful  day  of  the  Lord: 

"And  he  shall  turn  the  heart  of  the 
fathers  to  the  children,  and  the  heart 
of  the  children  to  their  fathers,  lest  I 
come  and  smite  the  earth  with  a 
curse." 

The  angel  quoted  these  verses  to  the 
young  boy,  and  instructed  him  in  that 
grand  principle  of  redemption  for  the 
dead.  Infidels  have  often  brought  up 
the  argument  against  the  justice  of 
God,  that  if  the  Gospel  was  the  only 
means  to  save  man,  then  those  who 
died  without  hearing  the  Gospel  could 


not  be  saved,  according  to  the  doc- 
trine taught  by  the  world  that  there 
was  no  salvation  after  death,  and  God 
would  be  an  unjust  being  to  judge  men 
for  not  accepting  what  they  never 
heard.  Now,  the  Prophet  Joseph 
taught  that  we  are  all  the  children  of 
God;  that  He  loves  His  children,  and 
desires  the  salvation  of  all;  that  the 
Gospel  is  broad  enough  to  save  all, 
and  that  those  who  have  not  heard  it 
in  the  flesh  will  have  the  opportunity 
to  hear  it  in  the  spirit.  Peter  under- 
stood this.  He  tells  about  the  Savior 
going  to  preach  to  the  spirits  in  prison, 
while  His  body  lay  in  the  tomb.  He 
even  explains  what  spirits  they  were. 
They  had  heard  the  Gospel  preached 
by  Noah,  but  had  rejected  it,  and  had 
been  cast  into  prison.  Another  op- 
portunity was  given  them  in  the  spirit. 
But  some  theologians  affirm  that  He 
simply  went  to  show  them  what  they 
had  lost,  and  thereby  increase  their 
torment.  Not  so;  that  was  not  the 
mission  of  Christ.  He  came  to  save. 
As  Isiah  says  concerning  Him,  He 
opened  the  prison  doors  and  led  captiv- 
ity captive.  He  preached  unto  those 
spirits,  and  opened  their  prison  doors. 
No  doubt,  by  that  time  they  were  glad 
indeed  to  receive  His  message. 

This  glorious  principle  of  salvation 
for  the  dead  was  revealed  through 
Joseph  Smith,  and  we  look  upon  it  as 
one  of  the  greatest  principles  of  the 
Gospel.  Joseph  Smith's  teachings 
were  not  simply  a  repetition  of  the 
teachings  of  others.  He  did  not  make 
up  a  system  of  religion  out  of  existing 
ones.  What  he  taught,  he  said,  was 
not  his  own;  it  was  given  to  him  by 
revelation  from  God.  Examine  "Mor- 
monism,"  and  you  will  find  that  it  is 
not  patchwork;  it  is  not  a  compound 
of  other  systems.  It  is  the  pure  Gospel, 
of  Christ,  exactly  the  same  as  He  and 
His  disciples  preached  in  former  days. 
Joseph  Smith  taught  nothing  that  was 
contrary  to  the  Scripturese.  He  did, 
however,  make  some  things  plainer 
to  the  understanding  of  men.  For  in- 
stance, take  the  principle  that  I  have 
alluded  to — salvation  for  the  dead. 
Paul  speaks  of  this  in  his  epistle  to  the 


44 


DEDICATION  OF 


Corinthians.  He  asks:  "What  shall 
they  do  which  are  baptized  for  the 
dead,  if  the  dead  rise  not  at  all?  Why 
are  they  then  baptized  for  the  dead?" 
Whenever  I  attended  a  funeral  in 
England  the  preacher  would  repeat 
these  words.  Who  understood  their 
meaning?  Who  knew  anything  about 
being  baptized  for  the  dead?  Joseph 
taught  that  people  who  pass  away 
without  a  knowledge  of  the  Gospel  will 
be  preached  to  in  the  spirit  world,  and 
that  all  will  have  the  opportunity  of 
hearing  the  Gospel,  either  in  this  life 
or  in  the  life  to  come. 

One  of  the  laws  of  the  Gospel  is  that 
a  man  must  be  born  again  before  he 
can  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God.  In 
other  words,  baptism  is  essential  to  sal- 
vation. Men  must  be  born  of  the  water 
and  of  the  Spirit.  Some  might  object 
that  baptism  was  too  mechanical  a 
thing  to  be  essential.  But  it  is  the 
obedience  that  makes  baptism  so  po- 
tential. If  a  man  should  be  baptized 
arid  have  no  faith,  it  would  not  avail 
him  anything.  He  must  first  have  faith 
in  God,  and  His  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and 
in  the  Holy  Ghost.  He  must  sincerely 
repent  of  his  sins,  and  resolve  to  do  bef- 
ter.  Then  he  is  in  a  condition  to  ob- 
serve the  third  principle  of  the  Gospel- 
baptism.  We  believe  that  baptism  is 
for  the  remission  of  sins,  just  as  Peter 
did  on  the  day  of  Pentecost;  but  faith 
and  repentance  must  come  before  it, 
and  then  baptism  will  bring  the  remis- 
sion of  sin  and  an  entrance  into  the 
kingdom  of  God.  I  know  the  world  say 
that  baptism  is  only  an  outward  sign 
of  an  inward  grace;  but  it  is  more  than 
that — it  is  a  law  of  God,  laid  down  as 
essential  to  salvation  and  an  entrance 
into  the  kingdom  of  God.  "Except  a 
man  be  born  of  water  and  of  the  Spirit, 
he  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
God."  And  this  applies  to  the  whole 
human  family.  Everyone  that  shall 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God  must  obey 
that  ordinance.  But  what  of  the  myri- 
ads who  have  lived  and  passed  away 
without  having  had  an  opportunity  of 
being  baptized.  The  plan  of  salvation 
as  taught  by  Joseph  Smith  provides  for 
them.  In  the  spirit  world  they  can  be- 


lieve and  repent,  and  then  the  hearts  of 
the  fathers  behind  the  veil  will  be 
turned  to  the  children  upon  this  earth, 
and  the  hearts  of  the  children  will  be 
turned  to  their  fathers,  and  they  will  be 
baptized  for  them.  But,  you  may  say, 
how  can  so  few  people  perform  this  or- 
dinance for  so  many  mfllions?  Why, 
we  aro  just  beginning  the  work. 
Throughout  the  Millennium, when  Christ 
shall  reign  upon  the  earth,  His  follow- 
ers, we  believe,  will  be  engaged  in  this 
glorious  work  of  performing  ordinances 
for  those  who  are  dead. 

The  angel  Moroni  instructed  Joseph 
upon  this  principle  when  he  visited  him 
that  night.  Before  I  close  I  will  allude 
to  another  principle  that  he  instructed 
him  in,  namely,  that  of  gathering.  The 
principle  of  salvation  for  the  dead  was 
not  taught  by  any  of  the  denomina- 
tions: it.  was  revealed  anew  through 
Joseph  Smith.  Gathering  was  another 
principle  that  was  revealed,  and  that 
was  unknown  in  that  day.  You  can 
read  in  the  Doctrine  and  Covenants 
where  the  Lord,  fourteen  months  before 
the  Church  was  organized,  tells  the 
Prophet  that  He  was  going  to  gather 
the  people.  In  several  revelations  re- 
ceived the  first  and  second  years  after 
the  organization,  He  tells  him  that  He 
would  gather  them  from  all  the  nations, 
that  He  would  establish  a  Zion,  and 
that  He  would  make  the  desert  to  blos- 
som as  the  rose.  All  these  things  were 
told  years  before  they  commenced  to  be 
fulfilled.  Before  the  gathering  from 
other  rations  started  this  revelation 
had  been  printed  and  given  to  the  world 
for  eight  years.  This  principle  of  gath- 
ering followed  the  preaching  of  the  Gos- 
pel trom  the  beginning.  Those  who  em- 
braced the  Gospel  wanted  to  be  where 
the  Churr-h  was,  that  they  might  learn 
more  of  the  ways  of  the  Lord.  When 
the  angel  instructed  Joseph  in  reference 
to  this  principle  he  referred  to  the  llth 
chapter  of  Isaiah,  which  reads  as  fol- 
I(AVS:  "And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in 
that  dasr,  that  the  Lord  shall  set  his 
hand  again  the  second  time  to  recover 
toe  remnynt  of  his  people,"  etc.  Read 
this  chapter,  and  you  will  see  that  it 
refers  to  the  doctrine  of  the  gathering. 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


45 


This  was  told  tc  Joseph  seven  years  be- 
fore the  Church  was  organized.  A  mere 
boy  then,  he  could  not  think  for  a  mo- 
ment that  he  would  be  able  to  gather 
people  from  all  nations;  but  it  was  re- 
vealed unto  him,  and  we  have  wit- 
nessed its  fulfillment.  Missionaries  have 
been  sent  to  different  nations  of  the 
earth,  and  as  soon  as  the  Gospel  is  re- 
ceived by  men,  without  a  word  being1 
said  in  relation  to  gathering,  the  spirit 
of  gathering  comes  upon  them,  and 
they  are  filled  with  an  irrepressible  de- 
sire to  leave  the  lands  of  their  birth  and 
gather  with  the  saints. 

These  two  principles  certainly  were  not 
taken  from  any  other  religion  then  up- 
on the  earth.  They  were  original,  so  I'ar 
as  the  knowledge  of  men  was  con- 
cerned; and  yet  we  find  prophecies  in 
the  scriptures  concerning  these  things. 
Compare  the  doctrines  taught  by  Joseph 
Smith  with  those  taught  by  the  former- 
day  Apostles,  and  you  cannot  show 
where  they  are  inconsistent  in  any  par- 
ticular. It  might  be  said  that  a  man 
could  study  the  New  Testament  and 
formulate  a  system  and  establish  a 
church  just  as  given  in  that  book.  But 
would  that  be  a  saving  church?  No,  be- 
cause the  man  would  have  no  authority. 
Howevery  faithfully  he  might  imitate 
the  former-day  church,  if  it  were  man's 
work  it  would  not  have  saving  power 
within  it.  The  sculptor  might  carve  a 
piece  of  marble  and  make  it  look  almost 
as  real  as  a  living  man,  but  however 
lifelike  it  might  be  it  would  lack  the 
spirit,  the  life.  So  if  ayone  should  imi- 
tate the  church  established  formerly,  by 
his  own  wisdom,  it  would  be  lifeless, 
without  spirit.  Therefore,  to  have  a 
church  merely  in  the  likeness  of  the 
church  established  by  Christ  would  not 
be  proof  of  its  truth;  and  any  church 
that  pretends  to  be  the  Church  of 
Christ,  if  it  differs  from  the  church  that 
Christ  and  His  Apostles  built  up,  you 
may  set  it  down  that  that  is  not  the 
Church  of  Christ;  for  the  Apostle  Paul 
said  that  if  anyone  should  preach  a  dif- 
ferent gospel  to  that  which  he  had 
preached,  "let  him  be  Accursed."  The 
Gospel  must  not  be  changed,  because 
the  author  of  it  is  God  Himself,  and 


man  cannot  improve  upon  His  work. 
The  Gospel  as  taught  by  the  Apostles 
formerly  was  given  to  them  by  the  Sav- 
ior; and  as  they  preached  it,  so  it  should 
have  continued  through  the  ages.  But 
you  compare  the  teachings  of  Christen- 
dom today  with  the  scriptures,  and  how 
different  they  are!  Instead  of  saying 
that  men  shall  believe  and  then  be 
baptized,  they  are  baptized  first 
and  taught  to  believe  afterwards.  In- 
stead of  laying  on  hands  for  the  Holy 
Ghost,  they  declare  it  unnecessary.  In- 
stead of  saying  that  signs  shall  follow 
those  who  believe,  they  say  signs  are 
no  longer  needed.  Instead  of  seeking 
communication  with  heavn,  they  say 
that  further  revelation  has  ceased. 
These  things  that  were  so  essential  in 
the  former  day  Church  are  declared  to 
be  so  no  longer.  Paul  said  that  there 
should  come  a  time  when  anti-Christ 
would  rise  up,  "who  opposeth  and  ex- 
alteth  himself  above  all  that  is  called 
God,  or  that  is  worshiped;  so  that  he 
as  God  sitteth  in  the  temple  of  God, 
showing  himself  that  he  is  God."  We 
believe  that  this  has  taken  place,  and 
that  there  have  been  centuries  of  spir- 
itual darkness  upon  the  earth.  But 
John  the  Revelator  saw  the  time  when 
an  angel  should  fly  in  the  midst  of 
heaven,  having  the  everlasting  gospel 
to  preach  unto  every  nation,  kindred, 
tongue  and  people.  We  bear  witness 
unto  you,  my  friends,  that  that  angel 
has  flown  and  restored  the  Gospel  to 
the  earth.  It  is  not  a  new  Gospel,  but 
"the  everlasting  gospel."  It  was  re- 
stored through  the  Prophet  Joseph, 
whose  birthday  we  commemorate  to- 
day. And  could  there  be  a  more  ap- 
propriate day  for  his  birthday  than  the 
23rd  of  December?  He  was  to  be  a 
Prophet  that  should  bring  the  Gospel 
light  back  into  the  world.  Yesterday, 
the  22nd,  was  the  shortest  day  in  the 
year.  Today,  the  23rd,  the  days  begin 
to  lengthen  and  the  light  of  day  to  in- 
crease. The  coming  of  Joseph  opened 
a  new  dispensation.  Light  is  increas- 
ing, truth  is  spreading,  and  darkness 
is  being  driven  back.  Many  of  the  "di- 
vines" of  the  day  are  preaching  the 
very  truths  given  by  the  Prophet  Jos- 


46 


DEDICATION  OF 


«ph;  but  they  do  not  give  him  the 
credit.  If  you  study  "Mormonism" 
with  a  prayerful  heart  and  an  unbias- 
ed mind,  you  will  be  astonished  to  find 
how  much  truth  this  unlearned  boy 
brought  forth.  Yet  he  became  learned, 
for  he  was  studious,  and  the  Lord  was 
with  him  and  blessed  him. 

I  rejoice  to  be  with  you  today.  I 
am  pleased  that  this  monument  has 
been  erected,  and  I  hope  that  the 
prayer  which  was  uttered  by  President 
Smith  in  the  dedication  of  it  may  be 
fulfilled,  and  that  it  may  be  preserv- 
ed from  all  vandalism.  God  bless  you 
all.  Amen. 

ELDER  CHARLES  W.  PENROSE. 

Although  it  is  unexpected  to  me  to  be, 
called  upon  to  speak  this  evening,  I 
take  pleasure  in  endeavoring  to  make 
a  few  remarks,  but  I  shall  not  detain 
you  long.  I  have  been  very  much  in- 
terested this  evening,  as  I  was  during 
the  exercises  of  today,  inf  the  speaking, 
the  singing,  and  everything  that  has 
been  done  on  this  very  pleasant  day. 
When  I  say  pleasant,  I  do  not  allude  to 
the  weather— that  was  a  little  incle- 
ment; but  the  associations  of  today,  I 
Relieve,  will  be  stamped  upon  my  soul 
as  long  as  I  live.  I  believe  too  that 
impressions  have  been  made  during  our 
visit  here  which  will  be  profitable  to 
the  people  of  this  place  who  have  taken 
part  with  us  in  the  proceedings. 

I  know  that  the  principles  which  have 
been  touched  upon  here  tonight  are 
true.  They  are  not  only  scriptural,  but 
they  are  eternal.  The  purposes  of  the 
Lord  in  regard  to  the  children  of  men 
were  made  known  in  ages  gone  by,  but 
they  have  to  a  large  extent  been  lost 
to  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth, 
through  the  traditions  and  doctrines 
of  men.  In  the  latter  days,  however,  as 
the  ancient  prophets  foresaw,  God  has 
established  His  Church  and  Kingdom 
upon  the  earth.  It  was  to  bring  in  the 
great  latter  day  work,  "the  dispensa- 
tion of  the  fullness  of  times,"  the  times 
of  restoration  spoken  of  by  all  the 
holy  prophets  since  the  world  began," 
that  our  Heavenly  Father  moved  up- 
on the  boy  Joseph  Smith  and  sent  an- 


gels to  him  to  make  manifest  the  truths 
that  had  been  lost  and  forgotten,  that 
they  might  take  the  place  of  the  ideas 
and  notions  of  men  which  had  been  in- 
troduced through  man's  wisdom,  or 
folly,  as  the  case  may  be. 

In  addition  to  the  truths  that  have 
been  alluded  to  this  evening,  which  are 
only  the  beginnings  of  the  doctrine  of 
the  Lord  revealed  in  the   latter   days, 
our   Heavenly     Father  also     bestowed 
upon    the   Propret   Joseph    Smith   that 
divine   authority  which  had   been   lost 
to  the  world  for  centuries.     You  who 
are  readers  of  the  Bible,   particularly 
the    New    Testament,    will    recall    the 
fact    that    our    avior,    when    He    was 
upon    the    earth    in    the    flesh,    called 
twelve  men  to  be  His  apostles,  and  He 
sent  them  out  to  preach,   to  teach,   to 
expound    the    principles    of    thel   king- 
dom  of   heaven,    to    heal   the   sick,    to 
comfort  those  who  mourned,  to  cause 
peace   to   dwell    in  *the    habitations    of 
those    wlio    entertained    the£m,    and    to 
proclaim   the   doctrine   that   the   king- 
dom of  heaven  was  at  hand.     He  also 
called  seventy  others,   and  sent  them 
in  a  similar  way.     They  went  out  and 
performed    the    mission    that    was    en- 
trusted to  them.    They  did  not  preach 
for  hire,  they  did  not  divide  for  money; 
but  they  went  without  purse  or  scrip. 
"Provide   neither   brass  nor  gold,   nor 
silver  in  your  purses,  nor  scrip  for  your 
journey,    neither    two     coats,     neither 
shoes,  nor  yet  staes,"  was  His  injunc- 
tion  to   them   when   they  went  out   to 
preach  the  Gospel.    They  were  not  sent 
to   preach    that    they   might    gain    ap- 
plause of  men;  they  were  not  to  preach 
their  own  ideas  and  notions;  but  they 
were  to  proclaim  His  commandments, 
which  He  had  received  from  the  Fa- 
ther.     He      declared     to     them,     "My 
doctrine  is  not  mine,  but  his  that  sent 
me.     If  any  man  will  do  his  will,   he 
shall  know  of  the  doctrine,  whether  it 
be  of  God,  or  whether  I  speak  of  my- 
self."   After  His  resurrection  He  called 
His   apostles     together.     One     of     the 
Twelve    had    forsaken    the    faith    and 
had  betrayed  the  Son  of  God  for  thirty 
pieces  of  silver;     so    there    were    but 
eleven   left.     He   said   to   them. 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


47 


"Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach 
the  gospel  to  every  creature. 

He  that  believeth  and  is  baptized 
shall  be  saved;  but  he  that  believeth 
not  shall  be  damned. 

"And  these  signs  shall  follow  them 
that  believe:  In  my  name  shall  they 
cast  out  devils;  they  shall  speak  with 
new  tongues; 

"They  shall  take  up  serpents;  and  if 
they  drink  any  deadly  thing,  it  shall 
not  hurt  them;  they  shall  lay  hands  on 
the  sick,  and  they  shall  recover." 

That  is  recorded  in  the  last  chapter 
of  the  Gospel  according  to  St.  Mark. 
Matthew  relates  the  same  circum- 
stances in  these  words: 

"Go  ye  therefore,  and  teach  all  na- 
tions, baptizing  them  in  the  name  of 
the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost: 

"Teaching  them  to  observe  all  things 
whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you: 
and,  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  un- 
to the  end  of  the  world." 

This  commission  was  given  to  those 
.servants  of  the  Lord  by  our  Savior,  and 
He  received  His  authority  from  the 
Father.  We  are  told  by  the  Apostle 
Paul  that  "Christ  glorified  not  himself 
to  be  made  an  high  priest;  but  he  that 
said  unto  him,  Thou  art  my  Son,  today 
have  I  begotten  thee.  As  he  saith  also 
in  another  place,  Thou  art  a  priest  for 
•ever  after  the  order  of  Melchisedek." 
•God  called  Jesus  Christ,  and  gave  Him 
His  authority.  He  bestowed  upon  Him 
the  power  He  exercised  while  He  was  in 
mortal  flesh;  and  He  conferred  that 
power  upon  His  apostles.  He  said  to 
them,  as  recorded  by  John,  "Ye  have 
not  chosen  me,  but  I  have  chosen  you, 
and  sent  you  forth  into  the  world." 

The  point  I  want  to  make  clear  to 
your"  minds  is  that  these  men  who  were 
sent  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ  did  not  go  out  in  their  own  au- 
thority. They  were  not  called  by  men. 
They  were  not  trained  in  the  schools  of 
learning  of  the  times.  But  they  received 
their  authority  from  Christ,  who  re- 
ceived it  from  the  Father.  And  these 
apostles  were  commanded  to  wait  be- 
fore they  went  on  their  divine  mission 
.to  the  world— to  wait  until  they  were 


endowed  with  power  from  on  high.  On 
the  day  of  Pentecost,  referred  to  by 
Presiden  Lund,  they  were  assembled 
in  one  place  with  one  accord,  and  tha 
Holy  Spirit  was  made  manifest  to  them. 
It  came  like  the  sound  of  a  rushing 
mighty  wind,  and  filled  the  place,  and 
they  commenced  to  speak  in  tongues,  as 
the  Spirit  gave  them  utterance.  This 
was  in  fulfillment  of  the  promise  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  them.  These  apos- 
tles of  our  Savior  went  out  to  preach 
the  Gospel  as  they  had  been  command- 
ed, and  they  organized  the  Church  of 
Jesus  Christ  after  the  pattern  He  had 
shown  to  them.  That  pattern  ts  ex- 
plained to  us  by  the  Apostle  Paul  in 
his  first  epistle  to  the  Corinthians,  12th 
chap.  He  says  there  that  the  Church  of 
Christ  is  like  the  body  of  a  human  be- 
ing, composed  of  different  parts,  and 
that  every  part  is  essential  to  the  other 
part;  that  the  head  cannot  say  to  the 
foot,  I  have  no  need  of  thee;  and  the 
foot  cannot  say  to  the  hand,  I  have  no 
need  of  thee;  but  all  the  parts  of  the 
Church  of  Christ  as  it  was  established 
in  that  age  of  the  world  were  essential, 
the  same  as  in  the  human  body  every 
organ  and  part  is  necessary  to  its  per- 
fect existence,  and  when  each  part  per- 
forms its  proper  function,  then  the 
whole  body  is  full  of  energy  and  life, 
being  imbued  with  the  spirit  that  dwells 
in  the  body.  So  in  the  Church  of  Christ; 
the  Spirit  of  God  animates  it,  as  the 
spirit  of  man  animates  his  body. 

"And  God  hath  set  some  in  the  church, 
first  apostles,  secondarily  prophets, 
thirdly  teachers,  after  that  miracles, 
then  gifts  of  healinsrs,  helps,  govern- 
ments, diversities  of  tongues." 

We  are  told  also  in  the  same  chapter 
that  there  are  diversities  of  gifts,  but 
the  same  Spirit.  To  one  is  given  by  the 
Spirit,  says  the  Apostle,  the  word  of 
wisdom;  to  another  knowledge  by  the 
same  Spirit;  to  another  faith,  to  an- 
other the  gi^t  of  healing,  to  another  the 
gift  of  discerning  of  spirits,  to  another 
divers  kinds  of  tongues,  to  another  the 
interpretation  of  tongues.  "But  all 
these  worketh  that  one  and  the  selfsame 
Spirit,  dividing  to  every  man  severally 
as  "he  will."  These  gifts  were  bestowed 


48 


DEDICATION  OF. 


as  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  willed,  not  as 
man  willed.  They  were  given  to  the 
members  of  the  Church  in  fulfillment  rf 
the  promise  of  Jesus  Christ,  that  the 
signs  should  follow  those  that  believed. 

As  I  have  said,  they  built  up  tha 
Church  in  the  way  they  had  been  com- 
manded. They  did  not  preach  for  doc- 
trines the  commandments  of  men; 
but  they  preached  by  the  power 
and  gift  and  demonstration  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  They  taught  that  which  Christ 
had  taught  them;  they  did  not  teach 
their  own  doctrines,  nor  the  command- 
ments of  men.  Thus  was  the  Church  of 
Jesus  Christ  built  up  in  the  regions 
round  about  Jerusalem. 

Now,  these  apostles,  as  you  will  read, 
predicted  that  the  time  would  come 
when  the  people  would  turn  away  from 
the  faith;  when  they  would  "heap  unto 
themselves  teachers,  having  itching 
ears,  who  would  turn  them  from  the 
truth,  and  be  turned  unto  fables."  The 
apostles  predicted  that  the  time  would 
come  when  men  would  make  merchan- 
dise of  the  souls  of  men,  preaching  for 
doctrine  the  commandments  of  men.  So 
we  find  that  by  the  time  John  received 
that  great  vision  called  the  last  revela- 
tion, it  being  placed  last  in  the  Bible, 
there  were  only  seven  churches  that 
seemed  to  be  worthy  of  communication 
from  God;  and  you  will  find  in  the  first 
few  chapters  of  John's  Revelation  the 
Lord  Denounced  them,  and  said  that  ex- 
cept they  would  repent  He  would  re- 
move them  out  of  their  place. 

I  hurry  along  because  I  do  not  want 
to  occupy  much  time,  but  I  desire  to 
show  you  that  the  authority  which 
Christ  gave  to  His  apostles— that  divine 
authority  which  He  said  should  "bind 
on  earth  and  it  should  be  bound  in 
heaven,  and  loose  on  earth  and  it  should 
be  loosed  in  heaven"— was  lost  from  the 
earth;  for  the  time  was  when  darkness 
came  in  like  a  flood,  and  all  nations  par- 
took of  it.  It  is  depicted  in  the  book 
of  Revelation,  where  John  saw  a  wom- 
an sitting  on  a  scarlet  colored  beast, 
and  she  was  full  of  names  of  blas- 
phemy, and  upon  her  forehead  was 
written  an  inscription  which  showed 
that  all  nations  were  under  her  influ- 


ence, and  she  held  in  her  hand  a  golden 
cup  full  of  abominations  and  filthiness. 
John  saw  in  that  vision  that  "all  na- 
tions were  made  drunk  with  the  wine' 
of  the  wrath  of  her  fornication."  So 
darkness  came  upon  all  the  nations  of 
the  earth.  In  the  same  Revelation  John 
saw  an  angel  coming  to  the  earth  to  re- 
store the  Gospel.  He  writes: 

"And  I  saw  another  angel  fly  in  the 
midst  of  heaven,  having  the  everlast- 
ing gospel  to  preach  unto  them  that 
dwell  on  the  earth,  and  to  every  na- 
tion, and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and 
people, 

"Saying  with  a  loud  voice,  Fear  God, 
and  give  glory  to  him;  for  the  hour 
of  his  judgment  is  come:  and  worship 
him  that  made  heaven,  and  earth,  and 
the  sea,  and  the  fountains  of  waters." 

Mark  the  language  of  John:  this  an- 
gel that  he  saw  in  the  midst  of  heaven 
brought  the  Gospel  for  EVERY  na- 
tion, and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and 
people.  What  does  it  prove?  It  proves 
that  John  foresaw  a  time  when  every 
nation,  kindred,  tongue  and  people 
upon  the  broad  earth  would  be  with- 
out the  everlasting  Gospel  in  its  ful- 
ness and  beauty,  as  Christ  had  preach- 
ed it.  You  may  trace  the  history  of 
nations  from  the  time  of  the  Apostles, 
and  you  will  find  that  darkness  cov- 
ered the  earth.  False  doctrines  were 
preached.  Men  began  to  preach  for 
hire  and  divine  for  money,  and  to 
make  merchandise  of  the  souls  of  men. 
Darkness  came  and  overspread  the 
earth,  and  gross  darkness  the  people. 
Then  came  reformers  at  different 
times.  Men  were  raised  up  to  intro- 
duce more  light,  to  reform,  existing 
errors,  and  to  prepare  the  world  for 
the  time  when  the  Gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ  should  be  restored  to  the  earth. 
But  the  sects  and  denominations  that 
have  been  organized  were  the  systems 
of  men.  All  contained  some  truth,  and 
seme  error  also;  but  they  were  estab- 
lished by  the  wisdom  of  men,  and  not 
by  revelation  from  God;  for  they  all 
declared  that  revelation  had  ceased, 
that  the  gifts  and  blessings  which 
Christ  promised  should  follow  the  be- 
liever were  done  away,  and  in  the 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


49 


place  of  that  beautiful  Church  estab- 
lished by  Christ,  likened  to  the  perfect 
body  of  a  human  being,  we  have  had 
all  these  discordant  organizations  that 
men  have  set  up.  Christendom  today 
Is  rent  asunder  with  janglings  and 
quarrelings  about  doctrine  and  notions 
introduced  by  men. 

That  was  the  condition  of  the  world 
at'  the  time  the  Lord  raised  up  Joseph 
Smith,  about  whom  we  have  heard 
tonight,  and  a  monument  to  whom  has 
been  reared  on  that  hill.  The  Father 
and  the  Son  appeared  to  him  in  heav- 
enly vision.  Joseph  went  to  pray  to 
the  Lord,  that  he  might  find  out  which 
of  all  these  different  sects  was  the  true 
church.  The  Father  pointing  to  His 
Son  said,  "This  is  my  beloved  Son: 
hear  Him."  Joseph  asked  the  Son  in 
regard  to  these  different  religions;  and 
he  was  told  to  go  after  none  of  them, 
because  they  were  preaching  for  doc- 
trines the  commandments  of  men, 
and  without  authority  from  God.  In 
due  time,  after  Joseph  had  been  in- 
structed by  the  angel  Moroni,  other 
angels  appeared  to  him  to  bring  back 
to  earth  the  old  authority  that  Christ 
gave  to  His  servants.  The  first  person 
that  came  with  that  authority  was 
John  the  Baptist,  the  forerunner  of 
Jesus  Christ.  He  ordained  Joseph 
Smith  and  Oliver  Cowdery  to  the 
Priesthood  and  authority  that  he  held, 
which  was  the  Lesser  Priesthood,  call- 
ed the  Priesthood  after  the  order  of 
Aaron,  which  holds  the  right  to  bap- 
tize for  the  remission  of  sins,  but  can- 
not confer  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
John  the  Baptist  baptized  our  Savior; 
that  was  as  far  as  he  could  go.  But 
Jesus  Christ  gave  to  Peter,  James  and 
John  and  the  rest  of  the  apostles  the 
authority,  not  only  to  baptize,  but  to 
confer  the  Holy  Ghost.  Read  the 
Acts  of  the  Apostles,  and  you  will  learn 
that  after  people  believed  in  Christ 
and  repented  of  their  sins,  and  were 
baptized  by  being  immersed  in  the 
water  for  the  remission  of  sins,  the 
apostles  of  Christ  laid  their  hands  up- 
on them,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  came 
upon  them.  In  that  first  sermon 
preached  on  the  day  of  Pentecost  the 


promise  was  given  to  all  people  that  if 
they  would  repent,  obey  the  Gospel  of 
Christ,  and  be  baptized  for  the  remis- 
sion of  sins,  they  should  receive  the 
gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  the  apostles 
held  it.  Then  after  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith  received  the  authority  to  bap- 
tize, Peter,  James  and  John— «-upon 
whom  Christ  conferred  the  authority 
of  the  holy  apostleship  and  to  pre- 
side in  His  Church — came  and  min- 
istered to  the  Prophet  Joseph,  and  or- 
dained him  to  the  holy  apostleship. 

These  points  I  wish  to  make 
clear  to  your  minds  tonight,  that 
you  may  learn  that  the  authority  has 
been  restored  to  administer  in  the  or- 
dinances of  the  Gospel — the  power  and 
authority  to  administer  in  the  name  of 
the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost;  the  power  to  administer 
the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel  on  the 
earth,  and  they  shall  be  acknowledged 
and  recorded  in  the  heavens. 

The  witness  of  the  truth  of  this  lies 
in  the  fact  that  wherever  this  Gospel 
is  preached  and  people  believe,  repent, 
are  baptized  for  the  remission  of  sins, 
and  the  servants  of  God  holding  this 
authority  lay  their  hands  upon  them, 
the  Holy  Ghost  comes  upon  them.  The 
witness  of  Jesus,  the  Spirit  which 
bears  witness  of  the  things  of  God, 
comes  upon  them,  and  they  are  taught 
of  God.  They  are  baptized  by  one 
Spirit  into  one  body;  the  blessing  of 
the  Lord  is  upon  them,  and  the  testi- 
mony of  Jesus,  which  is  the  spirit  of 
prophecy,  is  in  their  souls.  The 
Church  of  Christ  has  been  built  up 
again  under  this  authority  after  the 
ancient  pattern,  with  prophets,  apos- 
tles, pastors  and  teachers,  "for  the  per- 
fecting of  the  saints,  for  the  work  of 
the  ministry,  for  the  edifying  of  the 
body  of  Christ  till  we  all  come  in  the 
unity  of  the  faith  and  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God."  By 
the  power  of  that  Holy  Spirit  God 
bears  witness  in  the  souls  of  the  chil- 
dren of  men  everywhere,  when  they 
receive  the  Gospel,  that  His  servant 
Joseph  Smith  is  a  prophet  of  God. 

I  have  been  privileged  to  preach  this 
Gospel  in  many  lands,  among  many 


50 


DEDICATION  OF 


peoples,  of  different  faiths  and  cus-  . 
toms  and  languages,  and  I  bear  my 
testimony  to  you  tonight  before  the 
heavens  and  the  earth,  that  wherever 
honest  hearts  received  this  word  and 
obeyed  this  Gospel,  the  Eternal  Father, 
by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  has 
borne  witness  to  them  that  this  work 
is  His.  and  that  it  is  true.  We  bear 
testimony  that  Joseph  Smith  was  a 
prophet  of  God,  and  people  say  some- 
times, Why  do  you  talk  so  much  about 
Josenh  Smith?  Why  don't  you  talk 
more  about  Jesus  Christ?  Well,  peo- 
ple generally  profess  to  believe  in 
Jesus  Christ;  and  there  is  this  to  be 
understood,  that  if  a  man  believes 
Joseph  Smith  was  a  prophet  of  God 
and  bears  testimony  to  that,  then  in 
the  very  bearing  of  that  testimony  he 
witnesses  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the 
Son  of  the  Eternal  Father;  for  Jo- 
seph Smith  preached  Jesus  Christ,  and 
if  Joseph  Smith  is  really  and  truly  a 
prophet  of  God,  then  the  Father  and 
the  Son  appeared  unto  him.  So  when 
we  bear  testimony  that  Joseph  Smith 
is  a  prophet  of  God,  we  also  bear  testi- 
mony that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the  Son 
of  the  Eternal  Father. 

This  is  my  testimony  to  you  tonight. 
I  know  there  is  a  God.  I  know  that 
He  hears  and  answers  prayer.  I  know 
that  Jesus  Christ,  who  was  crucified  on 
Calvary,  is  the  Son  of  God.  I  know 
they  appeared  in  heavenly  vision  to 
Joseph  Smith,  and  that  he  was  raised 
up  in  these  latter  times  to  usher  in 
that  great,  last  dispensation,  which 
will  bring  to  pass  the  restitution  of  all 
things  and  prepare  the  way  for  the 
second  coming  of  the  Son  of  Man.  And 
that  day  is  near  at  hand.  But  when 
He  comes,  it  will  not  be  as  the  babe  of 
Bethlehem,  to  be  "despised  and  reject- 
ed of  men,  a  man  of  sorrows  and  ac- 
quainted with  grief."  He  will  come  in 
the  clouds  of  heaven,  with  power  and. 
great  glory,  to  be  admired  of  His 
Saints,  to  take  vengeance  upon  them 
that  know  not  God  and  obey  not  the 
Gospel  which  has  been  restored,  and 
which  will  be  preached  to  every  na- 
tion, kindred,  tongue  and  people  un- 
der the  whole  heavens. 

That  authority  which  the  Lord  gave 


to  His  apostles  has  ben  restored  and 
is  on  the  earth  today,  and  will  never  be 
taken  away  again.  When  this  Church 
of  Jesus  Christ  was  organized  upon 
the  earth  in  this  dispensation  it  was 
for  the  last  time.  The  truth  that  the 
Lord  has  restored,  He  promsied  in  the 
beginning,  shall  never  be  taken  from 
the  earth  again,  but  shall  remain  with 
His  people,  with  their  children  and 
their  children's  children,  and  with 
their  seed,  from  henceforth  and  for- 
ever, saith  the  Lord.  This  Gospel  that 
was  brought  forth  through  the 
instrumentality  of  the  Prophet 
Joseph  Smith  will  go  forth  to 
every  ,  land  and  clime;  and  the 
Church  will  remain  and  abide,  and 
no  power  can  overthrow  it;  not  because 
the  men  and  women  in  it  are  so  great 
and  mighty,  for  they  desire  to  be  hum- 
ble and  to  receive  truth  wherever  it 
comes  from,  but  because  the  power  of 
God  is  in  it.  I  know  this  work  is  the 
work  of  the  Lord,  and  it  will  spread 
forth  and  prevail  among  all  the  na- 
tions of  the  earth.  The  honest,  the 
truthful,  the  good,  the  pure  and  the  just 
will  come  to  it  from  every  land  and 
clime,  and  the  predictions  of  the 
prophets  concerning  Zion  will  be  really 
and  literally  fulfilled. 

Zion  has  gone  up  into  the  high  moun- 
tains. The  nations  of  the  earth  are 
turning  toward  her.  Many  people  have 
gone  up  into  the  mountains,  as  the 
prophets  of  old  declared  they  would, 
where  they  could  learn  the  ways  of 
the  Lord  and  walk  more  perfectly  in 
His  paths.  Zion  will  arise  and  shine, 
the  glory  of  God  will  be  seen  upon  her, 
and  kings  will  come  to  her  light  and 
the  Gentiles  to  the  brightness  of  her 
rising.  The  truth  shall  go  forth  and 
radiate  to  every  land  and  clime,  and 
the  honest,  pure  and  true  will  come  to 
the  banner  of  the  Lord  and  help  to 
build  up  the  latter-day  kingdom  pre- 
paratory to  the  coming  of  the  Son  of 
Man.  That  coming  is  nigh  at  hand, 
even  at  our  doors;  and  the  signs  that 
Christ  gave  of  that  coming  are  to  be 
seen  in  the  world  by  those  who  will 
open  their  eyes.  Read  the  24th  chap- 
ter of  Matthew,  and  you  will  see  that 
those  things  which  Christ  predicted  as 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


51 


the  signs  of  His  coming  are  taking 
place  now  in  the  world.  One  of  these 
signs  is,  "Then  shall  this  Gospel  of  the 
kingdom  be  preached  in  all  the  world 
for  a  witness  unto  all  nations,  and  then 
shall  the  end  come."  That  Gospel  is 
now  being  preached  as  a  witness  to  the 
nations  of  the  earth— the  same  Gospel 
that  Christ  Himself  preached;  and  all 
people  are  called  upon  everywhere  to 
turn  unto  the  Lord;  to  turn  away  from 
their  false  creeds  and  notions,  from 
their  false  conceptions  of  Deity,  and 
worship  Him  that  made  heaven  and 
earth,  the  seas,  and  the  fountains  of 
waters— the  Great  Eternal  Father,  who> 
made  us  in  His  .own  image,  and  who 
sent  His  Son  Jesus  Christ  to  die  for  us, 
and  He  was  the  express  image  of  His 
Father's  person.  Come  unto  me,  saith 
the  Lord,  and  I  will  draw  near  unto 
you.  Repent  of  your  sins,  of  your  cor- 
ruptions and  your  wickedness,  and 
humble  yourselves  before  me;  go  down 
into  the  waters  of  baptism,  and  receive 
remission  of  your  sins,  under  the  hands 
of  my  servants  whom  I  have  sent  forth, 
and  you  shall  receive  the  gift  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  The  signs  that  follow  the 
believer  and  every  blessing  that  per- 
tains to  the  Gospel,  you  shall  enjoy,  if 
you  will  seek  unto  me,  saith  the  Lord, 
with  full  purpose  of  heart. 

I  bear  my  testimony  to  you  tonight, 
solemnly  and  in  the  name  of  the  Lord 
(I  may  never  again  see  you  who  dwell 
here),  that  this  Gospel  is  true,  that  it 
has  come  down  out  of  heaven,  and  that 
the  authority  to  preach  it  and  admin- 
ister in  it  has  come  down  out  of  heaven, 
and  it  has  come  here  to  stay  and  abide 
until  the  whole  earth  shall  hear  the 
sound  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  honest  and 
upright  be  gathered  into  the  fold  o£ 
Christ.  I  bear  testimony  to  you  that 
the  things  spoken  tonight  by  my  breth- 
ren are  true— the  very  truths  of  heaven. 
May  the  peace  and  blessings  of  God 
be  with  you.  My  brethren  and  sisters, 
go  back  to  your  several  fields  of  labor 
and  be  strengthened  and  comforted  by 
the  proceedings  of  this  day.  Peace  be 
in  your  hearts;  the  blessings  of  God 
surround  you.  Keep  yourselves  un- 
spotted from  the  world.  Bear  testi- 
mony to  the  truth,  and  make  yourselves 


a  living  testimony  of  the  truth  of  the 
Gospel  you  have  embraced.  You  people 
who  dwell  in  this  town,  may  the  bless- 
ings of  the  Lord  be  upon  you.  May 
you  rejoice  in  the  truth.  May  your 
eyes  be  opened  to  perceive  the  truth. 
I  can  ask  no  greater  blessing  for  you 
than  that  you  should  see  the  truth  of 
this  great  work  which  the  Lord  has 
commenced  in  the  earth.  I  pray  the 
Lord  to  bless  you,  to  enlighten  your 
minds;  and  may  He  save  us  all  in  His 
kingdom.  I  ask  it  in  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ.  Amen. 


ELDER  JUNIUS  F.  WELLS. 

I  should  not  ,do  myself  justice  if  I 
did  not  express  in  public,  inasmuch  as 
I  have  the  opportunity  of  doing  so,  my 
thankfulness  and  gratitude  to  the  peo- 
ple of  this  village  and  the  adjoining 
ones  for  their  treatment  during  the 
time  I  have  been  engaged  here  in  build- 
ing the  Joseph  Smith  Monument.  I 
have  had  nothing  but  kindness,  good- 
will, intelligent  help  and  a  willingness 
to  assist  manifested  towards  me  by  th<% 
people  here.  I  have  not  felt  that  it 
was  my  mission  to  attempt  to  proselyte, 
to  preach  Mormonism,  or  in  any  man- 
ner to  disturb  the  conditions  of  the 
minds  of  the  people  here.  It  was  my 
duty  to  accomplish  the  labor  assigned 
me;  and  I  preferred  to  let  the  work  of 
my  people  bear  its  own  testimony. 

You  have  listened  tonight  to  some 
testimonies  from  men  who  have  had 
experience  in  "Mormonism,"  who  are 
men  of  character,  ability  and  high 
standing  in  our  community  and 
throughout  the  west,  where  they  are 
well  known.  I  have  the  same  testi- 
mony that  they  possess.  There  haa 
never  been  one  instant's  doubt  in  my 
mind  concerning  the  propriety  of  mark- 
ing the  birthplace  of  the  Prophet  Jos- 
eph Smith  by  a  monument.  Apart  from 
the  conviction  that  he  was  a  Prophet 
which  comes  through  obedience  to  the 
principles  which  he  enunciated,  thost 
who  have  not  this  conviction  can  in  a 
measure,  without  any  great  violence 
to  their  other  convictions,  find  it  in 
their  hearts  to  admit  that  Joseph 


52 


DEDICATION  OF 


Smith  was  a  prophet.  A  man  who  fore- 
tells something  that  comes  true,  and 
that  too  of  Importance  to  mankind,  has 
the  right  to  be  distinguished  among 
his  fellows  as  a  prophet.  History  ha» 
proved  that  Joseph  Smith  was  & 
prophet,  because  for  seventy  years  his 
testimony  has  been  before  our  nation, 
and  the  sixth  generation  of  Latter-day 
Saints  Is  growing  up  in  that  faith  of 
which  he,  under  the  Almighty,  was  the 
founder.  If  I  ever  had  the  slightest 
doubt  that  he  was  a  prophet  of  God,  a 
man  raised  up  to  give  mankind  some- 
thing better,  something  looking  more 
clearly  and  certainly  to  their  soul's 
salvation  than  they  possessed,  all  my 
doubts  would  have  been  removed  by 
the  labor  of  the  past  four  or  flv<% 
months  in  your  midst.  Upon  that  hill 
of  Sharon  I  have  realized  the  Spirit, 
in  perfect  harmony  with  the  teachings 
I  have  received  all  the  days  of  my  life. 
I  have  been  wonderfully  blessed,  as 
you  all  can  bear  witness  who  know 
anything  of  the  work  that  has  neces- 
sarily been  required  to  erect  that  mon- 
ument. I  have  been  favored  some- 
times almost  to  the  point  of  direct  in- 
terposition of  providence.  The  elements 
have  been  made  propitious;  conditions 
that  seemed  adverse  have  been  remov- 
ed; obstacles  that  appeared  insuper- 
able have  either  been  overcome  or 
turned  out  not  to  be  serious. 

When  I  examined  the  records  to  see 
what  kind  of  title  and  what  testimony 
could  be  secured  concerning  the  iden- 
tity of  the  place,  I  incidentally  found  out 
the  character  of  the  people,  not  only  of 
Joseph  Smith's  family  and  ancestors, 
but  of  their  neighbors.  The  records 
right  here  prove  to  any  fairminded, 
candid  and  honest  investigator  that 
there  was  no  fraud,  no  humbug  in  the 
claim  that  Joseph  Smith  set  up.  His 
predictions  have  been  concerning  the 
salvation  of  mankind,  and  also  relative 
to  affairs  that  might  be  considered  by 
some  outside  of  the  question  of  salva- 
tion. Joseph  gmith  announced  to  the 
world,  after  he  received  his  first  vision, 
that  the  heavenly  personages  who  ap- 
peared to  him,  called  him  .  by  name 
and  gave  him  instruction,  and 


that  thereafter  angels  visited  him. 
He  was  told  by  them  that  his  name 
should  be  known  for  good  and  evil 
among  all  the  nations  of  the  earth. 
That  was  a  prophecy.  Now,  if  you  can- 
not conceive  of  the  visitation  of  an- 
gels in  our  time  (though  it  Is  not  un- 
reasonable that  angels  should  visit 
mankind  in  our  day  If  they  ever  did, 
and  those  who  believe  in  the  Bible 
must  recognize  the  fact  that  angels 
visited  men  in  times  past),  you  must 
admit  that  the  prophecy  has  been  ful- 
filled. Take  up  the  names  of 
men  of  renown;  think  of  the  most 
distinguished,  either  of  our  own  coun- 
try or  of  other  countries,  and  can  you 
recall  one  whose  name  is  so  univer- 
sally spoken  of  for  good  or  evil  as  the 
name  of  Joseph  Smith?  And  the  prob- 
abilities are  that  from  this  day  forth, 
his  name  will  be  spoken  of  more  widely 
than  ever  before,  because  there  is  no 
press  or  telegraphic  connection  with 
the  world  to  which  the  announcement 
of  this  day's  event  has  not  been  made. 
How  comes  this?  He  must  have  been 
a  prophet,  he  must  have  had  the  in- 
spiration of  God,  to  have  foretold  so 
truly  that  which  we  are  living  witness- 
es of  today. 

I  wish  to  bear  my  testimony  that  we 
have  built  this  monument  because  we 
know  that  Joseph  Smith  was  a  proph- 
et. Do  I  know  it?  Not  from  reading 
history  or  making-  comparisons  such  as 
I  have  alluded  to,  but  from  the  same 
source  that  my  brethren  have  received 
the  conviction  which  satisfies  their 
souls  and  removes  every  atom  01 
doubt.  Do  I  know  that  the  institution 
in  which  I  was  reared,  the  principles 
you  have  heard  enunciated,  the  doc- 
trines known  as  "Mormonism,"  are  in- 
deed the  truth?  I  most  assuredly  do; 
and  they  fill  my  heart  with  perfect 
satisfaction.  To  those  who  will  be- 
lieve we  promise  that  there  shall  not 
remain  a  lurking  doubt  as  to  their  hope 
and  conviction  of  the  future,  but  their 
souls  shall  be  satisfied.  With  us  the 
questions,  as  to  why  we  are  here,  who 
we  are,  and  what  is  our  future,  are 
solved,  and  doubt  is  removed.  I  do  not 
wish  for  anything  better  than  that  in 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT.  53 

the  way  of  religion.  That  is  what  we  as  handshaking  followed  and  copies  of  the 

Latter-day  Saints  hold  out  to  mankind  Christmas   "News,"   the  "Improvement 

if  they  will  receive  it.     With  those  who  Era,"  and  other  literature  published  by 

cannot  see  it  we  have  no  controversy.  the  Latter-day  Saints  were  distributed 

Mv   heart   is   full   of   gratitude,    praise  among  the  people. 

and  thanksgiving.       I   know  that   my  After  the  close  of  the  meeting  Presi- 

Redeemer  lives,   and  I  know  that  Jo-  dent  McQuarrie  and  company  left  for 

seph  Smith  was  a  prophet  of  the  living  Boston  on  the  midnight  train,  and  early 

God.  the    following    morning,    Sunday    24th, 

the   Memorial   party   departed   for   thf» 

During    the    services    beautiful    solos  game  place  where  they  arrived  late  ln 

were    rendered   by    Brother   Robert    C.  the  forenoon  and  repaired  to  the  Parker 

Easton  and  Sisters  Emma  Lucy  Gates  Houge  for  refreshments  and  change  of 

and  Ellen  Thomas;  Cecil  Gates  accom-  raiment 
panying  them  on  the  piano.    A  general 


The  Memorial  Party  in  Boston. 

Sunday  and  Monday,  December  24  and  25,  1905. 


At  2  p.  m.,  meeting  was  held  in  Dea- 
con's hall,  at  which  the  Saints  of  Bos- 
ton and  a  number  of  strangers  were 
present,  nearly  filling  the  room.  Presi- 
dent John  G.  McQuarrie  presided  and 
the  remarks  delivered  are  here  given  in 
full: 

ELDER   GEORGE  ALBERT   SMITH. 

My  brethren  and  sisters— and  in 
speaking  thus  I  address  all  present, 
whether  they  be  members  of  the 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day 
Saints  or  not,  as  that  is  the  feeling  that 
we  have  towards  all  our  Father's  chil- 
dren, wherever  they  may  be.  He  is 
our  Father,  and  we  are  His  children. 
In  that  sense  we  are  brothers  and 
sisters,  and  the  feeling  that  we  should 
have  in  our  hearts  towards  one  an- 
other is  that  we  are  indeed  the  children 
of  the  same  Great  Parent.  I  am 
pleased  to  be  with  you  today,  having 
come  with  the  party  that  has  crossed 
the  continent  to  dedicate  the  monu- 
ment that  has  been  erected  to  the  mem- 
ory of  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith.  Be- 
ing so  close  to  Boston,  we  felt  a  desire 
to  come  here  and  visit  with  you. 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  occupy  much 
of  your  time,  for  there  are  quite  a 
number  of  visitors  present,  some  of 
whom  you  may  not  have  heard  before. 
We  have  had  a  glorious  time.  The 
Lord  has  blessed  us  on  our  journey.  The 
beautiful  monument  that  has  been 
reared  in  memory  of  Joseph  Smith  has 
been  dedicated,  as  also  the  cottage  that 
has  been  built  around  the  hearthstone 
where  Joseph  Smith  as  a  little  babe 
was  no  doubt  nursed  by  his  mother. 
It  is  a  beautiful  spot  of  ground,  and 


the  people  who  live  in  that  vicinity 
seem  proud  of  what  has  been  done  by 
our  people.  This  is  only  one  of  the 
evidences  that  what  the  Latter-day 
Saints  do  they  do  well.  Those  of  you 
who  come  from  the  west  understand 
that  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  as  it 
has  been  revealed  in  our  day  partakes 
of  practical  as  well  as  spiritual  things; 
in  fact,  we  consider  that  all  things  are 
spiritual.  The  "Mormon"  people  have 
been  the  builders  of  a  great  common- 
wealth in  the  section  where  they  now 
dwell.  They  have  aided  in  building 
up  that  western  country.  And  now 
for  the  first  time  they  have  turned  their 
faces  back,  as  it  were,  to  begin  to 
build  in  New  Ensrland.  I  presume 
that  the  monument  and  the  cottage  are 
the  first  structures  of  the  kind  that  our 
Church  has  built  in  Vermont.  This  is 
the  land  of  Zion— the  place  that  our 
Father  has  indicated  as1  choice  above  all 
other  lands.  It  was  to  this  land  that 
our  forefathers  came  from  Holland 
and  other  European  countries  in  order 
to  enjoy  freedom  and  the  right  to  wor- 
ship God  according  to  the  dictates  of 
their  own  consciences.  It  was  to  this 
land  that  Lehi  and  his  family  came,  and 
it  was  to  them  a  promised  land.  The 
other  two  companies  that  left  the  east- 
ern hemisphere  under  the  direction  of 
the  Lord,  as  recorded  in  the  Book  of 
Mormon,  came  to  this  land  of  promise. 
Sp  we  speak  of  the  land  of  America  as 
a  promised  land,  and  we  love  it.  Con- 
trary to  the  statements  of  those  who  lo 
Jiot  feel  kindly  toward  us,  we  love  the 
land  of  America.  We  love  the  United 
States.  We  believe  that  the  Constitu- 
tion was  inspired  of  Almighty  God,  in. 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


55 


order  that  men  might  be  permitted  to 
worship  Him  without  molestation,  and 
that  a  great  liberty-loving  people  might 
thrive  and  grow  up  upon  this  land.  We 
believe  that  from  this  land  there  will  go 
out  unto  the  nations  of  the  earth  a 
love  for  liberty  and  freedom,  such  as 
we  have  enjoyed  here  so  many  years, 
and  for  which  many  of  our  forefathers 
bled  and  died.  When  I  come  into  the 
city  of  Boston  my  heart-strings  are 
touched  as  I  think  of  the  suffering  and 
privation  that  our  forefathers  endured 
right  in  this  neighborhood,  in  order  that 
'we  might  enjoy  the  liberty  that  we 
have  today.  As  a  member  of  the  Church 
of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints,  I 
acknowledge  the  hand  of  our  Father  in 
the  sucoess  of  the  war  of  1776.  I  ac- 
knowledge His  hand  also  in  the 
success  of  the  federal  troops  in  the 
war  between  the  North  and  the  South. 
I  acknowledge  His  hand  in  the  growth 
and  development  of  this  great  country, 
where  His  sons  and  daughters  can  live 
and  gain  their  own  livelihood  without 
being  annoyed  by  the  conditions  that 
exist  in  many  foreign  countries. 

It  is  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  that 
we  bear.  It  is  the  desire  to  save  the 
souls  of  the  children  of  men  that  burns 
in  our  hearts.  It  is  not  that  we  may 
bujld  ourselves  up  and  become  a  mighty 
people  financially;  it  is  not  that  we 
may  have  our  names  glorified  in  the 
earth  for  our  accomplishments;  but  it 
Is  that  the  sons  and  daughters  of  God, 
wherever  they  may  be,  may  hear  this 
Gospel,  which  is  the  power  of  God  unto 
salvation  to  all  those  who  believe  and 
obey  its  precepts.  And  those  who  be- 
lieve will  follow  the  pattern  given  by 
the  Savior  when  He  said  unto  His  dis- 
ciples, "He  that  believeth  and  is  bap- 
tized shall  be  saved;  but  he  that  be- 
lieveth not  shall  be  damned."  We  be- 
lieve in  the  same  doctrine  that  was 
enunciated  by  the  Apostles.  We  believe 
that  the  signs  should  follow  the  believ- 
er. We  believe  in  the  gift  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  by  the  laying  on  of  hands.  We 
do  not  believe  that  the  heavens  -are 
^sealed  over  our  heads,  but  that  the 
same  Father  who  loved  and  cherished 
the  children  of  Israel  loves  and  cher- 
ishes us.  We  believe  that  we  are  as 


much  in  need  of  the  assistance  of  our 
heavenly  Father  in  the  directing  of  our 
lives  as  they  were.  We  know  that  in 
the  day  and  age  in  which  we  live  the 
seal  has  been  broken,  and  God  has 
again  spoken  from  the  heavens;  that 
the  Gospel  has  been  restored  to  the 
earth,  as  John  the  Revelator  said  it 
would  be.  In  the  14th  chapter  of  his 
Revelation  we  read:  "And  I  saw  anoth- 
er angel  fly  in  the  midst  of  heaven,  hav- 
ing the  everlasting  Gospel  to  preach  un- 
to them  that  dwell  on  the  earth,  and  to 
every  nation,  and  kindred,  and  tongue, 
and  people."  We  believe  that  that  aji- 
gel  has  flo»wn.  In  answer  to  the  prayer 
of  the  humble  boy,  Joseph  Smith,  the 
heavens  were  opened,  and  the  Father 
communicated  with  him,  as  He  com- 
municated with  men  in  olden  times.  We 
believe  this  was  necessary,  because 
when  Joseph  Smith  asked  which  of  ail 
the  churches  he  should  join,  he  was  told 
to  join  none  of  them,  for  they  worshiped 
God  with  their  lips,  but  their  hearts 
were  far  from  Him. 

My  brethren  and  sisters,  do  we  wor- 
ship our  Heavenly  Father  with 
our  hearts  or  with  our  lips? 
Do  we  keep  the  commandment  He  gave, 
Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with 
all  thy  might,  mind  and  strength,  and 
thy  neighbor  as  thyself?  If  we  have 
not  reached  this  in  our  lives,  then  we 
come  short.  Before  we  may  hope  to 
come  back  in  the  presence  of  God  and 
receive  from  Him  the  welcome  plaudit, 
Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant, 
we  must  so  arrange  our  lives  that  we 
can  love  our  Father  and  our  brothers 
and  sisters.  Inasmuch  as  we  do  a 
kindness  unto  the  least  of  our  Father's 
children,  He  has  said,  we  do  it  unto 
Him.  It  is  with  this  spirit  of  love 
and  kindness  that  the  Latter-day 
Saints  labor.  It  is  with  a  desire  to 
save  the  souls  of  the  children  of  men 
that  our  missionaries,  both  men  and 
women,  are  abroad  in  the  various  na- 
tions and  scattered  all  over  this  land. 
They  travel  without  purse  and  scrip 
they  pay  whatever  expenses  are  neces- 
sary; they  leave  their  loved  ones  and 
go  out  to  receive  the  buffetings  and 
contumely  of  the  world.  For  what? 
In  order  that  they  may  preach  Christ 


56 


DEDICATION  OP 


and  Him  crucified,  and  that  the  truth 
of  heaven  may  be  planted  in  the  hearts 
of  the  children  of  men,  so  that  they 
may  know  that  God  lives,  that  He  is 
a  personage,  with  body,  parts  and  pas- 
sions, and  that  Jesus  Christ,  our  elder 
brother,  is  indeed  His  Son. 

I  bear  testimony  of  the  truth  to  you, 
my  brethren  and  sisters.  Not  only 
have  I  read  the  works  our  Father  has 
given  to  us  and  received  a  testimony 
thereby,  but  I  have  seen  the  lives,  the 
sufferings  and  the  devotion  of  men  and 
women  who  have  embraced  the  Gospel 
of  Christ.  I  have  followed  their  foot- 
steps across  the  great  desert  and  seen 
.where  they  pioneered  their  way  into 
that  western  wilderness,  to  make  their 
homes  with  the  wild  beast  and  the 
still  more  savage  red  man — for  what? 
That  they  might  be  free  to  worship 
God  according  to  the  dictates  of  their 
consciences.  Their  devotion  and  love 
has  touched  my  heart.  They  have  set 
an  example  unto  the  children  of  men. 
Their  testimony  has  been  exemplified 
in  their  lives;  for  the  strongest  testi- 
mony we  can  bear  of  our  belief  in  the 
Father  is  the  testimony  of  a  consistent 
life.  These  men  and  women  have 
builded  a  commonwealth  in  the  west. 
They  took  possession  of  it  when  it  was 
the  land  of  Mexico.  They  raised  the 
stars  and  stripes,  and  their  sons  and 
daughters  have  been  taught  to  honor 
the  country  in  -which  they  live.  I  tes- 
tify to  you  that  I  know,  as  I  know  that 
I  live,  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the 
Son  of  God,  that  Joseph  Smith  was  a 
prophet  of  the  living  God,  and  that 
he  restored  the  Gospel  in  this  day  and 
age.  The  evidence  of  its  divinity  will 
come  to  you  if  you  will  but  examine 
It  with  sincerity.  While  "Mormon- 
ism"  has  been  opposed  by  those  who 
have  not  understood  it,  and  by  the 
power  of  evil  that  has  desired  its  over- 
throw, it  is  our  Father's  work,  and  if 
we  will  be  faithful  and  true  to  it, 
some  day  we  will  find  our  names  en- 
rolled in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life.  If 
we  have  labored  In  the  mission  field, 
though  the  backs  of  many  have  been 
turned  to  us,  though  doors  have  been 
closed  in  our  faces,  yet  we  will  be 


among  those  of  whom  the  Father  has 
said,  "Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it 
unto  the  least  of  these  my  children, 
ye  have  done  it  unto  me." 

Let  us  be  exemplary  in  our  lives. 
Let  us  teach  the  Gospel  of  our  Father 
in  everything  that  we  do  and  say.  Let 
us  look  forward  to  that  happy  time 
when  we  will  be  reunited  with  the 
loved  ones  that  have  gone  before, 
when  the  great  families  with  which  we 
are  identified  will  be  clustered  in  that 
great  home  above,  where  our  Father 
lives  and  reigns  supreme,  and  where 
He  will  mete  out  to  every  one  of  us 
a  reward  for  all  the  good  we  accom- 
plish, and  will  withhold  from  us  the 
blessings  we  lose  by  our  thoughtless- 
ness and  faithlessness.  That  we  may 
be  faithful  and  true  to.  one  another; 
that  we  may  love  one  another;  that 
we  may  honor  the  nation  of  which 
we  form  a  part;  that  we  may  honor 
the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the 
names  that  He  has  blessed  us  with 
in  the  earth,  that  they  may  be  made 
glorious  because  of  our  lives,  and  that 
when  our  work  is  complete  we  may 
be  worthy  to  enter  into  His  presence 
and  enjoy  eternal  life,  is  my  prayer 
in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ.  Amen. 


ELDER  HYKUM  M.    SMITH. 

I  esteem  it  a  privilege  to  meet  with 
the  Elders  and  Saints  of  this  branch  of 
the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter- 
day  Saints.  We  expect  to  find  among 
those  who  bear  the  name  of  Christ  in 
the  world  the  same  spirit  that  is  found 
among  the  Saints  in  the  organized 
Stakes  of  Zion.  We  have  the  same  faith, 
we  have  been  baptized  with  the  same 
baptism,  and  we  have  received  the  same 
Holy  Spirit,  even  the  Comforter,  which 
has  revealed  to  each  of  us  a  knowledge 
of  the  truth.  Every  Latter-day  Saint 
is  entitled  to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth, 
to  the  record  that  God  is  indeed  tha 
Eternal  Father,  and  that  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  is  the  Redeemer  of  the 
world;  and  that  testimony  will  be  im- 
pressed upon  the  soul  of  every  man  and 
woman  who  sincerely  repents  and  an- 
ters  with  faith  into  the  waters  of  bap- 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


57 


tism,  and  is  baptized  by  Mte  holding  au- 
thority. We  expect  our  Elders,  as  they 
labor  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  to  be 
men  of  God.  We  are  called  a  peculiar 
people,  and  I  presume  we  are  peculiar 
in  that  we  have  left  behind  us  the  hab- 
its, tastes,  appetites  and  practices  of 
the  world,  because  we  have  been  shown 
that  many  of  them  are  wrong.  We  have 
departed  also  from  false  doctrine,  from 
misinterpretation  of  scripture,  and  from 
man-made  religions,  and  have  accepted 
the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  revealed 
anew  through  Joseph  Smith.the  proph- 
et of  the  last  dispensation.  We  want 
the  Elders  of  Israel  who  are  preaching 
the  Gospel  to  be  men  of  God,  serving 
Him  with  full  purpose  of  heart,  being 
imbued  with  the  idea  of  being  instru- 
mental in  the  hands  of  the  Lord  of  sav- 
ing some  of  their  fellow  creatures  and 
bringing  them  to  a  knowledge  of  the 
truth.  We  must  be  circumspect;  we 
must  be  honest,  honorable,  virtuous, 
honest  and  true.  We  cannot  indulge  in 
things  which  are  common  witn  the 
world.  Practices  are  indulged  in  by  the 
world,  not  sinful  in  their  eyes,  but  if  an 
Elder  of  Israel  were  to  engage  in  one 
of  them  he  would  be  pointed  out  in- 
stantly as  a  wrongdoer.  Most  men  in 
the  world  smoke,  but  if  an  Elder  of  this 
Church  were  to  walk  the  streets  smok- 
ing a  cigar,  it  would  astonish  the  world, 
if  they  knew  he  was  a  "Mormon."  They 
would  point  him  out,  and  say  he  was  no 
better  than  they,  and  his  influence- 
would  be  greatly  diminished.  You  may 
stand  around  here  and  hear  the  name 
of  God  profaned  most  blasphemously. 
A  member  of  any  other  church  can  do 
that  with  impunity;  but  no  Elder  of  the 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day 
Saints  must  do  it.  If  ne  does,  the  world 
will  accuse  him.  They  expect  us  to  be 
better.  That  is  one  peculiar  thing 
about  us.  I  presume  it  is  because  we 
make  higher  claims  than*  they  do.  We 
claim  a  higher  inspiration,  a  fuller 
knowledge,  than  they  enjoy;  and  in 
consequence  of  this  we  must  be  better 
men  and  women.  And  what  we  expect 
of  those  who  are  sent  out  to  preach  the 
Gospel,  we  require  of  every  member  of 
the  Church  when  he  or  she  is  converted. 
We  expect  them  to  be  better  than  they 


have  ever  been.  And  there  is  no  Lat- 
ter-day Saint  who  has  been  converted 
and  faithful  for  any  length  of  time  but 
will  confess  that  he  has  received  some- 
thing far  above  and  beyond  anything  he 
ever  had  before.  So  we  expect  con- 
verts to  be  better,  more  honest,  more 
faithful,  more  conscientious  in  keeping 
the  commandments  of  the  Lord,  than 
they  ever  were  before. 

Like  Brother  George  A.  Smith,  I  love 
my  fellow  men,  but  I  do  not  love  wick- 
•ed  men  that  will  not  repent.  I  am 
somewhat  in  the  same  state  of  feeling 
as  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith  was  when 
he  said  to  some  of  his  brethren,  "I  love 
you,  but  I  hate  some  of  your  acts." 
Whenever  you  do  that  which  is  wicked, 
you  need  not  expect  to  be  loved  in  that 
act  by  a  true  Latter-day  Sainx.  We 
may  still  have  love  in  our  hearts  for 
you,  though  it  may  be  more  pity,  more 
anxiety  and  more  concern  than  genuine 
love.  All  we  want,  brethren  and  sis- 
ters, is  for  those  who  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  to  be  mem- 
bers in  very  deed,  and  prove  to  those 
with  whom  they  mingled  before  their 
conversion  that  the  Gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ  has  made  them  better  men  and 
women.  If  they  see  that  your  con- 
version has  not  made  you  any  better, 
that  you  are  no  more  honest,  no  morf. 
sincere,  no  more  conscientious  than  you 
were  before,  you  will  not  be  casting  any 
credit  upon  the  Church.  On  the  other 
hand,  if  you  will  receive  the  Spirit  of 
the  Lord  and  the  testimony  of  -the 
truth,  and  put  the  doctrines  of  Christ 
into  practice  in  your  lives,  you  cannot 
help  but  become  better;  you  will  be 
better  men  and  better  women,  and  your 
former  associates  must  see  it  and  be 
compelled  to  acknowledge  it,  if  they  are 
honest  themselves.  If  the  Gospel  will 
not  make  us  better,  by  obedience  to  its 
precepts,  then  it  is  no  better  than  any 
other  religion;  but  if,  after  we  have 
embraced  it,  it  does  make  us  bettor, 
more  faithful,  more  benevolent,  more 
upright  and  honorable,  then  it  is  a  bet- 
ter religion.  The  religion  that  will 
make^  men  the  best  of  all  in  the  world 
is  the  best  religion;  and  that  religion 
has  been  embraced  by  the  members  of 
this  Church,  for  it  is  the  religion  of 


58 


DEDICATION  OF 


Jesus  Christ,  and  no  better  was  ever 
given,  nor  ever  will  be.  Within  that 
religion  is  found  all  the  doctrines,  laws, 
ordinances  and  authority  necessary  to 
save  and  exalt  men  in  the  kingdom  cf 
God  in  celestial  glory.  May  that  be 
your  happy  lot.  May  you  who  enjoy 
the  privilege  of  greater  knowledge  cf 
the  truth  be  charitable  towards  others, 
and  by  example  and  precept  persuade 
them  to  follow  the  footsteps  of  the  Lord 
Jesus;  and  maintain  yourselves  always 
in  the  fullest  integrity  to  the  covenants 
you  have  made  in  the  waters  of  bap- 
tism. This  is  my  prayer.  Amen. 


ELDER  RULON   S.  WELLS. 

It  is  indeed  a  pleasure  to  me  to  meet 
with  the  Elders  and  Saints  in  this 
branch,  and  with  their  friends  who 
have  assembled  here  today.  I  am 
deeply  interested  in  the  labors  of  the 
missionaries  who  have  been  sent  out  in- 
to the  world  to  lift  up  their  voices  and 
cry  repentance  unto  the  world  and  to 
admonish  them  of  the  fact  that  God 
has  spoken  from  heaven  in  the  day 
and  age  in  which  we  live,  and,  that  He 
has  raised  up  a  prophet,  even  the 
Prophet  Joseph  Smith,  to  usher  in  this 
great  and  glorious  dispensation,  the 
dispensation  of  the  fulness  of  times.  It 
has  been  my  pleasure  to  accompany 
President  Smith  and  his  party  to  che 
birthplace  of  that  great  prophet  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  and  to  dedicate  un- 
to the  Lord  the  monument  that  has 
been  erected  in  his  honor.  It  has  been 
to  me  a  very  solemn  occasion.  My 
heart  has  been  filled  to  overflowing.  I 
have  also  felt  some  regret,  in  the  fact 
that  my  fellowmen  have  not  received 
this  prophet  whom  the  Lord  sent  to 
the  world  in  the  early  part  of  the  nine- 
teenth century.  One  hundred  years 
ago  yesterday  he  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Sharon,  Windsor  county,  Vermont. 
I  rejoice,  however,  that  there^  are  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  who  have  accepted 
tho  message  which  he  proclaimed  to 
the  world  and  have  yielded  obedience 
to  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  which 
has  been  restored  to  earth  through  bis 
instrumentality. 


The  great  thing  that  stands  as  an  ob- 
stacle in  the  progress  of  this  work  is 
the  lack  of  faith  among  our  fellowmen. 
I  wag  deeply  interested  a  few  weeks 
ago  in  reading  an  account  which  ap- 
poarfd  in  the  Saturday  Evening  Post, 
under  date  of  Sept.  22nd.  It  is  an  ar- 
ticle written  by  Senator  Beveridge,  of 
Indiana,  intended  for  the  instruction  of 
young  men  who  are  graduating  from 
the  colleges  of  divinity.  He  refers  to 
a  conversation  which  he  had  held 
with  a  friend  of  his,  who  stated 
that  there  was  a  lack  of  faith  in 
the  world,  and  even  among  those 
whose  duty  it  is  to  lift  up  the 
banner  o*f  Christ  among  the  nations. 
This  friend  had  waited  upon  men  who 
were  graduates  from  these  colleges  and 
were  just  about  to  enter  upon  the  min- 
istry; he  had  also  spoken  with  eminent 
divines  whose  names  were  known  all 
over  the  country,  and  he  had  pro- 
pounded to  these  men  a  certain  number 
of  questions.  I  recollect  two  of  thes<k 
questions  plainly.  One  was,  do  you  be- 
lieve in  God  the  Eeternal  Father,  a 
real  personal  being,  in  whose  imag* 
man  has  been  created;  not  in  some 
form  floating  through  space,  but  in  a 
real  personal  being,  after  whose  image? 
man  has  been  created?  Now,  said  h». 
do  not  argue,  do  not  explain,  do  not 
modify;  but  put  your  mind  in  such  a 
position  that  you  can  answer  this  ques- 
tion yes  or  no.  Not  one  answered  yes! 
Another  question  was,  Do  you  believw 
in  Jesus  Christ  as  the  Son  of  God.  tht 
Redeemer  of  the  world,  whose  precious 
blood  was  spilt  for  the  salvation  of 
mankind?  Now,  do  not  argue,  do  not 
explain;  do  not  tell  us  you  think  ha 
was  some  great  moral  teacher;  any- 
body can  believe  that;  but  do  you  be- 
lieve that  he  was  the  Redeemer  of  the 
world,  the  very  Son  of  God?  Not  on« 
answered  yes!  To  me  that  was  a  very 
striking  explanation  of  the  condition  of 
the  world.  If  that  lack  of  faith  per- 
vades the  clergy  today— the  men  who 
stand  in  the  pulpits  to  teach  the  peo- 
ple— is  it  any  wonder  that  we  find  ouv- 
selves  living  in  a  day  of  agnosticism, 
skepticism,  and  want  of  faith?  "We 
need  men  who  can  stand  before  the 
people  as  Paul  and  Peter  did,  and  de- 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


59 


clare  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the  Son 
of  the  living  God;  men  who  have  an 
undoubting  faith  and  belief  that  there 
is  none  other  name  given  under  heaven 
whereby  mankind  can  be  saved.  I 
heard  a  minister  once  say  that  he 
thought  faith  was  a  weakness,  some- 
thing to  be  deplored  and  to  be  avoided. 
He  did  not  regard  it  as  a  virtue  at  all. 
He  had  mistaken  faith  for  credulity. 
Oh,  wat  a  vast  difference  between 
credulity  and  faith!  The  faith  that 
we  believe  in  is  a  faith  that  begets 
knowledge.  If  we  have  faith  in  God, 
we  learn  to  love  Him,  and  thus  keep 
that  greatest  of  all  commandments, 
Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  witn 
all  thy  heart,  with  all  thy  mind,  and 
with  all  thy  soul.  The  trouble  with 
mankind  is,  they  forget  God.  Lacking 
faith  in  Him,  they  have  no  particuar 
love  for  Him.  They  do  not  demon- 
strate their  faith  by  their  works. 

Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God 
with  all  thy  heart.  That  is  a  peculiar 
expression.  Do  we  love  with  our  heart? 
Does  the  heart  of  man  love?  The  young 
man  sometimes  says  to  his  sweetheart, 
"I  love  you  with  all  my  heart."  And' 
that  expression  has  a  meaning.  You 
never  hear  anybody  say,  "I  love  you 
with  all  my  liver,"  or  with  any  other 
organ  of  the  body.  But  it  is  with  the 
heart  that  we  love.  We  find  it  so  in 
scripture,  and  we  have  pretty  good  au- 
thority for  that.  I  have  sometimes 
wondered  why  that  expression  was 
used.  The  heart  of  man  is  an  organ 
whose  especial  function  it  is  to  pump 
blood  into  the  body,  causing  it  to  cir- 
culate into  every  portion  thereof,  im- 
parting life  and  vitality  to  the  man's 
organism.  That  is  a  wonderful  func- 
tion. The  hands  move  obediently  to 
the  mind  of  man,  but  not  so  with  the 
heart.  The  heart  does  not  yield  obedi- 
ence to  the  mind  of  man.  "We  can  labop. 
with  our  hands  all  day.and  at  night  we 
lie  .down  to  rest,  and  our  hands  are 
still.  Not  so  with  the  heart.  The  heart 
is  operated  upon  by  a  higher  power 
than  the  mind  of  man;  and  when  final- 
ly that  superior  intelligence  says  to 
the  heart,  Cease  thou  to  beat,  It  means 
that  we  are  called  back  to  Him  who 
gave  us  life.  Therefore,  when  God  said, 


"Son,  give  me  thine  heart,"  it  meant, 
"Son,  give  me  thy  life."  We  owe  our 
life  to  Him.  'Thou  shalt  love  the 
Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart."  In 
other  words,  thou  shalt  devote  unto 
Him  thy  life.  It  stands  written  in  the 
scriptures,  "Seek  ye  first  the  kingdom 
of  God,  and  his  righteousness,"  and 
the  promise  is  given  that  all  other 
things  shall  be  added  unto  us.  Let  us 
have  faith  in  God  and  believe  that  say- 
ing, because  if  we  will  put 
God  and  His  kingdom  first  we 
shall  realize  the  promise.  I 
know  that  is  not  how  people  generally 
feel.  The  kingdom  of  God  is  not  the 
first  consideration  with  them.  Their 
first  desire  is  to  try  and  enrich  them- 
selves and  to  look  out  for  those  de- 
pendent upon  them.  It  is  a  noble  thing 
to  provide  for  our  own,  but  it  is  not 
written  that  we  should  put  that  first 
and  God  second.  Men  labor  all  the 
day  long  trying  to  make  a  few  dollars, 
and  scheme  and  plan  and  tug  for  their 
own  interests,  and  if  they  can  find  a 
little  time  after  all  this  work  is  done, 
they  may  devote  a  little  of  it  to  the 
Lord — if  they  are  not  too  tired.  In 
other  words,  we  put  Him  second  and 
ourselves  first.  Now,  if  we  have  the 
love  of  God  in  our  hearts,  and  if  we  do 
love  Him  with  all  our  hearts,  we  will 
devote  oQr  lives  to  His  service,  we 
will  praise  Him  by  day  and  by  night, 
and  we  will  try  to  prove  that  we  are 
worthy  of  the  testimonies  we  have  re- 
ceived by  laboring  for  the  salvation  of 
the  souls  of  men.  The  purpose  of  our 
living  upon  this  earth  is  to  find  out 
the  will  of  God  and  then  to  do  it.  It 
is  not  merely  to  eke  out  an  existence 
upon  this  earth,  to  live  a  few  brief 
moments  and  then  to  die;  but  it  is  to 
prove  that  we  love  our  Eternal  Father. 
I  know  that  the  Gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ  is  true.  I  know  that  the  Pro- 
phet Joseph  Smith  was  an  instrument 
in  the  hands  of  God  of  restoring  that 
Gospel  to  the  earth.  It  has  within 
it  the  power  of  God  to  save  His  chil- 
dren. Let  us  obey  its  precepts  and 
live  in  accordance  with  its  teachings, 
and  we  will  gain  eternal  life  in  the 
presence  of  God.  This  is  my  testi- 
mony, in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Amen. 


60 


DEDICATION  OF 


PRESIDENT  JOSEPH  F.   SMITH. 

I  do  not  know  that  I  feel  very  much 
in  the  humor  of  speaking.but  President 
McQuarrie  thinks  that  my  brethren  and 
sisters  will  experience  some  disappoint- 
ment unless  I  say  at  least  a  few  words. 
We  have  been  traveling  now  for  over 
a  week,  and  it  is  generally  a  little  wear- 
isome to  travel  long  in  the  cars,  and 
especially  where  we  have  good  company 
which  keeps  us  up  late  at  nights,  and 
then  we  have  to  arise  early  in  the 
morning  to  get  our  meals  and  be  ready 
for  the  duties  of  the  day.  However,  I 
am  pleased  indeed  to  have  the  privilege 
of  meeting  with  so  many  of  the  Saints 
and  Elders  and  friends  as  are  assem- 
bled here  this  afternoon,  and  I  can 
commend  to  you  the  most  excellent  in- 
struction that  has  been  given  by  those 
who  have  already  spoken  and  the  tes- 
timonies which  they  have  borne.  No 
soul  can  embrace  the  Gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ  in  sincerity  without  its  making 
of  him  or  her  a  better  man  or  woman. 
Though  one  should  be  as  perfect  as  the 
young  man  who  inquired  of  the  Savior 
what  he  should  do  to  gain  eternal  life, 
the  Gospel  will  make  his  still  more 
perfect.  You  remember  that  the  Lord 
told  the  young  man,  in  answer  to  his 
question,  to  keep  the  commandments. 
"He  saith  unto  him.  Which?  Jesus  said 
Thou  shalt  do  no  murder,  Thou  shalt 
not  commit  adultery.  Thou  shalt  not 
steal,  Thou  shalt  not  bear  false  wit- 
ness, Honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother; 
and,  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as 
thyself.  The  young  man  saith  unto  Him 
All  these  things  have  I  kept  from  my 
youth  up;  what  lack  I  yet?"  Now,  there 
was  still  something  lacking  in  him. 
Good  as  he  was,  perfect  as  he  was  in 
observing  the  commandments,  still  the 
Lord  perceived  there  was  something 
lacking  in  him,  and  in  order  to  prove 
him  and  show  his  actual  condition,  of 
feeling  and  faith,  He  said  unto  him,  "If 
thou  wilt  be  perfect,  go  and  sell  that 
thou  hast,  and  give  to  the  poor,  and 
thou  shalt  have  treasure  in  heaven: 
and  come  and  follow  me."  But  when  he 
heard  that,  he  turned  away  sorrowful, 
"for  he  had  great  possessions."  Then 
Jesus  made  that  oft-quoted  remark: 


"Verily  I  say  unto  you,  That  a  rich 
man  shall  hardly  enter  into  the  king- 
dom of  heaven.  And  again  I  say  unto 
you,  It  is  easier  for  a  camel  to  go 
through  the  eye  of  a  needle,  than  for 
a  rich  man  to  enter  into  the  kingdom 
of  God."  Now,  most  people  say,  If 
that  be  the  case,  then  it  is  impossible 
for  a  rich  man  to  go  into  the  kingdom 
of  heaven.  I  suppose  if  we  really  un- 
derstood the  symbol  that  the  Savior 
used  upon  that  occasion,  it  would  be 
perfectly  simple  to  us.  There  existed 
at  that  time  in  the  walls  of  Jerusalem 
a  small  gate,  called  the  needle's  eye, 
and  it  was  so  small  that  it  was  very 
difficult  for  a  camel  to  get  through  it. 
When  the  traveler  arrived  after  the 
gates  of  the  city  were  closed,  he  would 
plead  to  have  his  camel  pass  within  the 
walls  by  means  of  the  "needle's  eye," 
and  sometimes  that  was  allowed,  if  the 
camel  was  not  too  big.  The  Lord  had 
reference  to  that  when  he  said  that  it 
was  easier  for  a  camel  to  pass  through 
the  eye  of  a  needle  than  for  a  rich 
man  to  enter  into  the  kimr^  ^  Of  hea- 
ven. But  the  point  I  wish  to  call  at- 
tention to  is,  What  did  that  young  man 
lack?  What  was  it  necessary  for  him 
to  have  in  order  that  he  might  gain 
eternal  life?  He  did  not  steal,  he  did 
not  lie,  he  did  not  defraud  his  neigh- 
bor, nor  bear  false  witness,  nor  com- 
mit adultery,  nor  do  anything  or  that 
kind.  According  to  his;  own  testimony, 
he  had  kept  all  these  commandments 
from  his  youth  up.  Yet  there  was 
something  lacking  .  What  was  it?  We 
conclude  that  he  lacked  just  the  one 
thing  that  Brother  Rulon  S.  Wells  has 
been  talking  of  this  afternoon— he  lack- 
ed the  love  of  God.  He  loved  his  riches 
more  than  he  loved  God.  The  result 
was,  he  turned  away  sorrowful;  and  for 
him  there  was  no  entrance  into  the 
kingdom  of  God  while  he  was  in  that 
condition  of  mind. 

My  brethren  and  sisters,  he  that 
loves  pleasure  more  than  he  loves  the 
truth  is  not  worthy  of  the  truth.  Such 
a  one  will  not  embrace  the  truth,  be- 
cause he  will  follow  that  which  ac- 
cords with  his  desires.  In  order  to 
be  a  Latter-day  Saint  indeed  and  of  a 
truth  we  must  feel  in  our  hearts,  as 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


61 


one  said  of  old,  As  for  me  and  my 
house,  we  will  serve  God,  no  matter 
what  may  come.  Whatever  allure- 
ments or  temptations  may  entce  us, 
whatever  inclination  we  may  have  to 
do  that  which  is  not  right  in  the  sight 
of  the  Lord,  we  must  rise  to  that 
standard  of  perfection  and  manhood,to 
that  intelligence  and  determination  of 
heart  and  soul,  that  we  can  say  to  the 
tempter.  "Get  thee  behind  me;  as  for 
me.  I  will  obey  God." 

Therefore,  I  repeat  what  one  of  the 
brethren  has  said  here,  that  to  become 
a  Latter-day  Saint  will  make  a  man 
better.  The  young  man  whom  the  Sa- 
vior tested,  proved  that  he  loved  hia 
riches  and  the  pleasures  which  those 
riches  brought  more  than  he  loved  God. 
Notwithstanding  he  kept  the  law  and 
all  that  sort  of  thing,  he  was  not  hum- 
ble and  he  did  no  love  the  truth  more 
than  all  else.  There  is  something  more 
required  of  us  than  merely  keeping  the 
law.  We  must  obey  the  will  of  the 
Father.  I  frequently  hear  people  say, 
"All  that  is  required  of  a  man  in  this 
world  is  to  be  honest  and  square,"  and 
that  such  a  man  will  attain  to  exalta- 
tion and  glory.  But  those  who  say  this 
do  not  remember  the  saying  of  the 
Lord,  that  "except  a  man  be  born  again 
he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 
They  do  not  take  that  into  account. 
They  do  not  seem  to  regard  that  as  a 
law  of  God,  essential  to  man's  salva- 
tion. The  forget  also  that  the  Savior 
said,  "Except  a  man  be  born  of  the  wa- 
ter and  of  the  Spirit,  he  cannot  enter 
into  the  kingdom  of  God."  No  matter 
how  good,  how  honorable,  how  honest 
he  Is,  he  must  pass  through  that  door 
in  order  to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
God.  The  Lord  requires  it.  Therefore, 
if  he  refuse  or  decline  to  enter  through 
the  door  of  the  sheepfold,  he  can  never 
become  an  heir  of  God  and  a  joint  heir 
with  Jesus  Christ.  He  may  become  a 
servant;  he  may  become  a  ministering 
spirit;  but  to  be  a  son  of  God,  to  in- 
herit eternal  glory,  exaltation  and  do- 
minion, he  never  can,  worlds  without 
end,  except  by  entering  in  at  the  gate 
and  observing  all  the  commandments 
of  the  Gospel.  There  is  no  question 
about  this,  if  the  doctrine  of  Jesus 


Christ  be  true;  and  I  say  it  is  true.  If 
a  man  should  ask  me,  Do  you  believe  in 
God  the  Father  of  Jesus  Christ?  do  you 
think  I  would  hesitate  a  moment?  Ver- 
ily, no.  I  would  say  to  him,  With  all 
my  soul  I  believe  in  God,  the  Father 
of  my  spirit,  the  Father  of  my  Lord  and 
Savior  Jesus  Christ,  the  Creator  of  the 
heavens  and  the  earth;  He  who  stands 
at  the  head  of  all  things,  and  by  whom 
all  things  were  made.  Not  only  do  I  be- 
lieve, but  my  judgment,  my  senses,  my 
sympathy,  my  reason,  my  soul,  are  all 
convinced.  I  know  that  my  Redeemer 
lives.  I  know  that  my  God  lives,  and 
that  Jesus  is  the  Christ.  And  no  man 
can  take  that  knowledge  from  me.  The 
Lord  gave  me  that  knowledge,  and  He 
has  made  me  to  feel  this  from  the 
crown  of  my  head  to  the  soles  of  my 
feet.  I  know  therefore  whereof  I 
speak. 

My  religion  teaches  me  to  love  all 
men.  However  much  I  may  despise 
their  acts,  or  deplore  their  wickedness 
and  their  darkness  of  mind,  yet  they 
are  made  in  the  image  and  likeness  of 
my  Father  and  God — they  are  my 
brothers  and  my  sisters.  It  is  required 
of  me  that  I  shall  love  my  neighbor  as 
myself.  I  may  not  have  risen  yet  to 
that  high  standard  of  perfection;  there 
may  still  be  lingering  in  me  the  selfish- 
ness that  would  prefer  myself  above 
my  neighbor;  but  I  aim  to  do  right  to 
my  fellowman,  because  the  Gospel  re- 
quires it.  It  is  the  law  of  God  that  I 
shall  forgive  all  men;  that  I  shall  not 
judge  men,  but  that  I  shall  leave  judg- 
ment in  the  hands  of  Him  who  is  a 
righteous  judge,  and  whose  right  it  is 
to  forgive  whom  He  will.  It  is  His 
right  to  sit  in  judgment  upon  men,  not 
mine.  Therefore,  I  forgive  men.  I  say, 
Let  God  judge  between  thee  and  me. 
Let  God  approve  their  good  deeds,  and 
reward  them  for  their  evil  deeds.  This 
right  does  not  belong  to  you  or  to  me. 
He  has  not  set  us  up  as  judges  over 
our  fellow-beings.  We  may  know  that 
men  do  wrong,  and  yet  they  have  souls 
to  have.  They  are  made  in  the  image 
of  God,  His  sons  and  daughters,  and  it 
is  our  duty  to  do  all  in  our  power  to 
lead  them  from  the  error  of  their  ways, 
from  their  follies  and  sins,  and  show 


62 


DEDICATION  OF 


them,  by  example  as  well  as  by  precept, 
the  way  they  should  go  in  order  that 
they  may  obtain  eternal  life.  No  man 
can  give  you  eternal  life.  It  is  not  giv- 
en to  one  man  to  save  or  exalt  another. 
But  it  is  given  to  man  to  know  the 
truth  for  himself,  and  to  walk  in  the 
light  for  himself  as  Christ  is  in  the 
light,  that  he  may  know  of  the  doc- 
trine, that  he  may  have  fellowship 
with  Christ,  and  that  His  blood  may 
cleanse  him  from  all  sin.  It  is  my 
privilege  to  be  in  this  position.  Then 
it  is  my  right  and  privilege  to  teach 
other  men  how  they  can  keep  the  com- 
mandments of  the  Lord,  how  they  can 
walk  in  the  right  path,  how  they  can 
do  that  which  will  save  them  from  sin 
and  bring  light,  intelligence  and  faith 
to  their  souls!  and  then  they  can  walk 
in  the  path  themselves  and  obtain  that 
which  they  desire  by  diligence  and 
faithfulness  in  keeping  the  command- 
ments of  God.  But  I  cannot  save  you; 
you  cannot  save  me.  No  man  can  save 
another;  he  can  only  be  instrumental 
in  persuading  another  to  forsake  sin 
and  to  do  that  which  is  right  and  ac- 
ceptable in  the  sight  of  the  Lord. 

When  I  was  a  little  boy  I  was  taught 
very  carefully  and  strictly  by  a  noble 
pure  mother.  I  was  deprived  when  but 
a*  child  of  the  counsel  of  a  father;  but 
I  had  the  honor,  the  pleasure  and  the 
profit  of  enjoying  the  counsel  and  di- 
rection of  a  most  noble,  faithful  and 
good  mother.  She  taught  me  principles 
of  honor,  uprightness  and  truth.  She 
taught  me  not  to  lie,  not  to  bear  false 
witness,  not  to  speak  evil  of  another, 
not  to  pick  a  quarrel,  not  to  be  conten- 
tious, but  rather  to  yield  to  those  that 
would  do  evil  than  to  resist;  to  say, 
get  behind  me,  to  those  who  would 
tempt  me  to  wrongdoing;  to  turn  my 
back  upon  them  -and  forsake  them. 
These  were  the  principles  that  were 
instilled  into  my  mind  when  I  was  a 
child.  At  the  age  of  15  I  was  called 
on  a  mission;  not  to  come  here  to  a 
portion  of  my  native  land,  but  I  was 
sent  to  the  islands  of  the  Pacific  ocean, 
thousands  of  miles  from  home  and 
from  friends,  where  I  had  to  learn  an- 
other language  in  order  that  I  might 
communicate  with  the  people.  The 


Lord  blessed  me  while  there.  But  those 
who  are  in  the  least  acquainted  with 
the  habits  and  conditions  of  the  people 
in  those  distant  islands  know  what 
temptations  there  are  for  young  men, 
and  how  difficult  it  is  for  men,  especial- 
ly young  men,  to  keep  themselves  pure 
and  unspotted  from  the  world.  If 
there  is  anything  in  the  world  that  I 
am  proud  of  it  is  that  through  the 
teachings  of  my  mother,  and  through 
my  faith  in  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ 
which  she  taught  me,  and  which  I  then 
believed  with  all  my  soul,  I  was  able 
to  keep  myself  unspotted  from  the 
world. 

I  wish  now  to  say  just  a  few  words 
to  my  young  friends  who  are  here  to 
preach  the  Gospel.  You  are  here,  young 
men,  to  teach  the  truth  more  by  ex- 
ample than  by  precept  or  preaching. 
Not  many  of  us  who  are  sent  out  in 
our  youth  count  very  much  when  it 
comes  to  preaching  and  expounding  the 
Scriptures;  but  we  can  «*«+  before  men 
that  ever-living,  ever-effective,  ever- 
powerful  testimony— the  testimony  of 
example.  Example  is  more  powerful 
for  good  than  all  the  preaching  you  can 
do.  Let  an  innnocent  boy  come  out 
here  into  the  world,  and  in  the  midst 
of  the  temptations  he  meets  prove  to 
the  world  that  he  will  not  yield  to  temp- 
tation; that,  like  Joseph  who  was  sold 
into  Egypt,  he  will  resist  the  tempter 
and  keep  himself  aloof  from  those 
allurements  that  lead  unto  destruction, 
immorality  and  wickedness;  let  him 
stand  up  like  the  snow-capped  Alps, 
pure,  white,  immovable,  and  unimpres- 
sionable to  those  things  which  lead 
away  from  the  pathway  of  righteous- 
ness and  truth  into  byapths  and  wick- 
ed ways,  and  he  will  do  more  good 
in  his  mission  than  he  can  do  by  the 
words  of  his  mouth.  Young  men,  do 
not  yield  to  temptation.  Do  not  per- 
mit yourselves  to  say  or  do  one  thing 
that  is  unbecoming  a  Latter-day  Saint, 
a  man  of  God,  a  son  of  parents  who 
have  forsaken  the  world  and  perchance 
all  they  possessed  in  it — kindred, 
friends,  home  and  everything  that  was 
dear  to  them— for  the  Gospel's  sake. 
Remember  that  most  of  your  parents 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


6 


have  done  this,  and  if  there  are  any 
who  would  not  do  it  if  required,  they 
are  not  worthy  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ;  for  Jesus  has  said  that  he  who 
will  not  forsake  father,  or  mother, 
brother  or  sister,  houses,  or  lands,  for 
His  sake,  is  not  worthy  of  Him.  There- 
fore, if  your  parents  would  not  do  that, 
they  are  not  worthy  of  the  Gospel.  But 
you  should  live  so  that  you  may  prove 
to  the  world  that  your  parents  are 
worthy,  and  that  they  taught  you  these 
things,  and  that  you  are  determined  to 
carry  out  their  counsels,  as  well  as  the 
counsels  of  the  Elders  of  the  Church  of 
Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints,  who 
teach  you  the  principles  of  the  Gospel 
and  admonish  you  to  avoid  sin,  even 
the  appearance  of  sin,  and  walk  up- 
rightly before  the  Lord,  and  keep  your- 
self pure  and  unspotted  from  the  world. 

What  a  glorious  testimony  it  is  when 
you  see  a  man  becoming  feeble  with 
age,  who  has  passed  through  the  world 
and  been  subjected  to  all  manner  of 
temptations,  and  now  almost  ready  to 
sink  into  his  grave,  who  can  stand  up 
and  say  to  all  the  world  and  to  his  God, 
"Father,  brothers  and  sisters,  I  have 
passed  through  this  world  undefined.  I 
have  not  yielded  to  the!  tempter,  nor  to 
deadly  sins."  *  O  he  may  have  had 
his  weakness  and  his  imperfections, 
but  they  have  been  imperfections  of  the 
head  and  not  of  the  heart.  He  may 
have  erred  in  his  judgment  in  some 
things.  He  may  not  have  been  as 
broadminded  as  he  should  have  been  in 
some  respects.  He  may  not  have  been 
up  to  the  standard  perhaps  in  many 
things.  Yet  in  the  one  thing  of  keep- 
ing himself  pure  and  clean,  uncontam- 
inated,  undenled,  healthy,  vigorous, 
manly,  godlike,  he  can  face  any  man  in 
the  world  and  say,  I  am  clean! 

Now,  boys,  I  want  you  to  live  so  that 
you  can  say  this!  that  when  you  get  to 
be  75  or  80  years  of  age  you  can  say 
before  God  and  men,  "I  am  clean  from 
the  sins  of  the  world.  I  am  not  denied, 
nor  contaminated.  I  have  kept  myself 
upright,  honest,  pure  and  virtuous." 

Let  me  say  to  our  young  men  who  are 
here  studying  different  branches  of 
learning:  Hunt  up  your  friends;  asso- 
ciate with  your  brethren  and  sisters. 
Do  not  pull  away  from  them;  do  not 


keep  yourselves  aloof  from  them.  Go 
to  their  meetings.  Go  to  the  presiding 
authorities  and  talk  with  them.  Say  to 
them,  "Here  I  am.  If  you  can  use  me 
for  any  good,  do  so.  If  I  have  talent 
and  ability  to  do  anything  you  want 
me  to  do  to  roll  on  the  work  of  the 
Lord  and  to  convince  the  honest  in 
heart  of  the  truth  we  have  received, 
here  I  am,  ready  to  be  used  for  the  ac- 
complishment of  God's  purposes  when- 
ever it  is  possible  for  me  to  get  away 
from  my  studies."  Now,  boys,  do  this, 
Remember  the  old  saying,  that  it  is  not 
all  of  life  to  live;  nor  is  it  all  of  death 
to  die.  There  is  something  more  in  life 
than  the  mere  living— "eat,  drink,  and 
be  merry,  for  tomorrow  we  die."  Men 
will  be  held  accountable  before  the 
great  judge  of  the  quick  and  the  dead 
for  the  deeds  done  in  the  flesh.  You 
cannot  avoid  that.  You  are  not  here  by 
chance.  You  came  here  by  the  will  of 
God,  according  to  His  design,  to  fulfill 
His  purposes;  and  you  came  here  with- 
out seeking  it  yourself,  so  far  as  this 
world  is  concerned.  You  are  entities; 
you  have  living  souls  within  you;  and 
you  will  be  raised  from  the  dead  just 
as  sure  as  Jesus  Christ  was  raised  from 
the  dead.  As  sure  as  by  Adam  you  die, 
so  sure  by  Christ  will  you  be  raised 
from  the  dead.  That  is  inevitable.  It 
is  according  to  God's  plan.  He  has  de- 
creed it,  and  you  cannot  help  yourself. 
Do  what  you  may,  you-  cannot  dodge 
that.  It  will  come  just  as  sure  as  birth 
and  death  come.  The  resurrection  will 
come  to  all  the  children  of  men;  but 
the  resurrection  of  the  righteous  will 
come  only  to  those  who  obey  the  com- 
mandments of  the  Lord.  Those  only 
who  walk  in  His  paths  and  keep  His 
law  will  come  up  in  that  resurrection, 
to  inherit  arid  enjoy  the  kingdom  of 
God. 

Furthermore,  remember  that  what- 
ever you  do,  God  sees  you.  His  eye 
is  upon  you.  You  cannot  hide  your- 
self from  His  face.  He  knows  you. 
His  angels  have  watchcare  over  you, 
and  they  will  give  account  of  ^ou.  You 
cannot  escape  that.  Then,  I  repeat,  it 
is  not  all  of  life  to  live.  There  is 
something  to  live  for.  There  is  a  work 
to  do  for  every  human  creature,  and 
that  work  is  the  work  of  righteousness, 


DEDICATION   OP 


of  truth,  of  self-denial,  of  faith  in 
God.  This  we  must  do;  and  unless  we 
do  it  according  to  the  light  we  posses, 
we  will  finally  be  weighed  in  the  bal- 
lances  and  found  wanting.  Then,  I  say 
to  you.it  is  not  all  for  you  to  just  study 
and  to  become  proficient  in  your  chos- 
en profession.  You  must  remember 
that  there  is  something  else  for  you  to 
do.  Men  and  women  should  fulfill  all 
the  requirements  that  the  Lord  has 
made  of  them.  God  has  written  His 
law  in  your  hearts.  And  when  a  man* 
commits  sin  to  the  extent  that  he 
drives  the*  Spirit  of  the  Lord  from  him 
and  becomes  abandoned  to  iniquity, 
then  he  is  indeed  a  sinner,  fit  only  for 
the  damnation  of  hell.  What  is  the 
damnation  of  hell?  It  is  banishment 
from  the  presence  of  Almighty  God,  in- 
to obiter  darkness.  It  is  banishment 
into  a  consciousness  of  having  forfeited 
your  lives  and  frittered  away  your 
hopes  of  exaltation.  It  is  the  anguish 
and  agony  of  the  mind,  the  immortal 
mind,  under  the  pressure  of  the  knowl- 
edge that  he  has  sinned  away  the  day 
of  grace,  or  committed  the  unpardon- 
able sin.  That  is  the  sin  for  which 
there  is  no  forgiveness  in  this  world 
nor  in  the  world  to  come — the  denial 
of  the  truth,  the  trampling  of  it  under 
foot,  considering  it  as  a  thing  of 
naught,  and  treating  it  as  worthless 
when  it  is  offered  unto  you.  Young 
men  you  may  have  to  assume  the  re- 
sponsibilities that  your  fathers  as- 
sumed before  you— that  of  the  care  of 
families.  These  are  things  that  are 
sacred  before  God,  and  spring  from 
that  law  of  God  which  is  engraven 
upon  your  souls;  for  every  man,  if  he 
is  born  with  natural  senses  and  capa- 
bilities, yearns  to  fulfill  that  law  of  des- 
tiny. Every  woman  yearns  to  fulfill 
that  law  of  God,  that  requirement  of 
nature,  that  principle  put  in  the  heart 
by  the  Almighty  himself,  an  attribute 
of  God,  a  part  of  His  divinity  inherited 
by  His  children  in  the  flesh.  We  come 
to  a  time  when  these  desires,  affec- 
tions and  requirements  assert  them- 
selves in  our  nature.  Then  we  must 
consider  these  things,  and  live  so  that 
when  we  enter  upon  these  responsi- 


bilities we  can  do  it  with  pure  hearts 
and  clean  hands,  with  undefiled  spirits 
and  bodies.  And  when  we  die,  that  is 
not  the  end.  Then  comes  the  resurrec- 
tion and  the  judgment,  and  God  will 
hold  you  strictly  to  an  account  for 
that  which  you  do  here,  just  as  sure  as 
you  live. 

My  dear  brothers  and  sisters,  my 
young  friends,  you  for  whom  my  heart 
yearns  with  the  deepest  sympathy,  be- 
cause I  see  you  very  much  in  the  posi- 
tion that  I  was  nearly  60  years  ago, 
when  I  was  sent  out  as  a  child, 
so  to  speak,  to  teach  the  principles 
of  the  Gospel.  I  did  not  know  much 
then,  and  I  was  not  capable  of  telling 
what  I  did  know;  but  I  was  capable, 
thanks  be  to  my  precious  mother,  of 
setting  a  good  example,  of  resisting 
evil,  doing  right,  and  keeping  my  head 
above  sin;  and  God  helped  me  in  it, 
and  preserved  my  life  and  my  honor, 
so  that  now  I  can  offer  it  unto  Him  un- 
sullied, for  which  I  thank  Him  with  all 
my  soul.  Brethren,  you  will  never  have 
anything  for  which  you  will  have  more 
reason  to  be  proud  and  thankful  before 
your  Father  than  that  you  can  offer 
your  lives  unto  Him  pure  and  unsullied 
when  you  shall  be  called  to  render  an 
account  before  Him. 

The  Lord  help  you  to  be  faithful, 
diligent,  persevering,  earnest,  honest, 
and  upright,  and  to  do  good  to  all  men. 
Forgive  those  that  trespass  against 
you,  that  persecute  you,  and  that  say 
all  manner  of  evil  against  you  falsely. 
Pray  for  them,  and  ask  God  to  have 
mercy  upon  them,  and  if  possible,  for- 
give them  and  show  them  the  error 
of  their  way.  Be  like  Christ  was.  so 
far  as  observing  His  laws  and  His  pre- 
cepts is  concerned.  Keep  yourselves 
without  sin,  and  obedient  to  the  will 
of  the  Father,  as  He  was.  Peace  be 
unto  you.  God's  blessings  be  upon  you 
in  your  labors,  that  you  may  be  en- 
couraged and  strengthened;  that  you 
may  not  be  homesick  nor  fainthearted; 
that  you  may  not  lose  your  faith;  that 
your  knees  may  not  tremble;  but  that 
you  may  feel  tht  you  are  strong  in 
the  power  of  the  Almighty,  and  that 
you  may  be  upheld  by  Him  in  every 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


65 


good  word  and  work.  But  should  you 
transgress,  O  God  have  pity  on  you! 
for  then  you  will  be  afraid  to  meet 
your  friends.  You  will  want  to  be  with 
the  stranger,  with  those  who  know  you 
not  and  who  cannot  discern  your  con- 
dition and  spirit.  You  will  want  to 
slink  away  from  the  light,  and  from 
the  association  of  your  brethren  and 
friends,  who  would  take  you  in  their 
arms  and  succor  and  sustain  you  in  all 
that  is  good.  That  is  the  commence- 
ment of  evil.  When  men  do  wrong  en- 
tirely they  do  not  want  the  association 
of  those  who  do  right,  and  they  hide 
their  faces  from  them.  Therefore, 
Brother  McQuarrie  can  judge  of  you 
boys.  Whenever  you  come  to  him  and 
seek  his  counsel;  whenever  you  show 
forth  that  you  are  not  afraid  to  meet 
him  and  shake  the  hand  of  fellowship 
with  him,  he  will  then  have  an  undeni- 
able testimony  that  you  are  all  right. 
But  the  moment  you  begin  to  shun  him 
or  others  of  your  brethren,  there  comes 
a  testimony  that  you  have  been  doing 
something  which  you  are  ashamed  of, 
and  you  know  it.  God  knows  it  also, 
and  perhaps  a  third  party  will  know  It; 
and  these  three  witnesses  will  testify 
against  you  by  and  by,  viz.,  God,  your- 
self and  the  person  with  whom  you 
have  transgressed.  Man  cannot  com- 
mit sin  alone,  because  the  eye  of  God 
will  pierce  his  hiding  place  and  nb<^rve 
the  wrong  he  is  doing.  There  will  be 
at  least  two  witnesses  to  the  offense. 

The  Lord  bless  you  and  help  you 
to  avoid  error  and  evil  and  to  walk 
in  the  paths  of  righteousness,  is  my 
prayer  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ, 
Amen. 

During  the  meeting  the  sacrament 
was  administered  and  Sister  Emma 
Lucy  Gates  sang  two  solos.  Patriarch 
John  Smith  opened  the  meeting  by 
prayer  and  the  benediction  was  pro- 
nounced by  President  Francis  M.  Ly- 
man. 

After  the  meeting  President  Smith 
and  a  number  of  his  relatives  were 
taken  by  Mr.  Frank  P.  Bennett  to  his 
home  in  Oakland  Vale,  near  Saugus, 
where  they  remained  until  the  follow- 


ing day,  being  entertained  in  splendid 
style,  and  where  they  partook  of  a 
bounteous  Christmas  dinner. 

In  the  evening  another  excellent 
meeting  was  held  in  Deacon  Hall,  con- 
ducted by  Elder  John  G.  McQuarrie. 
Elder  Charles  W.  Penrose  delivered  the 
principal  address,  speaking  on  the  first 
principles  of  the  Gospel,  and  was  fol- 
lowed by  President  Anthon  H.  Lund, 
and  Elders  Ashby  Snow,  Brigham  F. 
Grant,  Frank  Y.  Taylor,  Angus  M.  Can- 
non and  Benjamin  Goddard.  The  meet- 
ing was  well  attended,  many  strangers 
beings  present  and  a  good  spirit  pre- 
vailing. 

Christmas  day  was  clear  and  warm, 
and  was  spent  by  the  party  in  various 
ways.  Those  who  had  relatives  in  that 
part  were  entertained  by  them.  A  num- 
ber went  to  Harvard,  while  others  vis- 
ited the  various  points  of  historical  in- 
terest in  and  around  Boston.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  Smith  family  that  had  re- 
mained in  Boston  over  night  took  the 
train  for  Saugus  and  from  there  were 
taken  to  the  home  of  Mr.  Bennett, 
where  they  met  President  Smith  and 
those  who  were  with  him. 

Automobiles  were  secured  for  the  par- 
ty, and,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Bennett 
and  two  of  his  sons,  they  visited  Tops- 
field  and  Boxford,  in  Essex  county, 
where  Robert  Smith,  the  progenitor  of 
the  family  in  America,  had  lived.  The 
first  stop  was  made  at  the  Topsfield 
cemetery,  where  many  of  the  Smiths 
are  buried.'  Here  a  monument  stands 
to  the  memory  of  Robert  and  Mary; 
Samuel,  son  of  Robert,  and  his  wife, 
Rebecca;  and  Samuel,  son  of  Samuel, 
and  his  wife  Precilla.  It  was  erected  by 
President  George  A.  Smith  and  other 
members  of  the  family  in  Utah,  in  the 
year  1873.  Next  the  company  visited 
the  home  of  Asael,  son  of  second  Sam- 
uel Smith,  and  grandfather  of  the 
Prophet.  This  is  on  the  outskirts  of 
Topsfield,  about  one  mile  north  of  the 
town.  The  old  house  was  torn  down 
about  thirty  years  ago,  and  a  new 
frame  cottage  stands  on  the  site.  A 
well  of  cool,  clear  water  is  near  the  cot- 
tage, and  was  used — and  was  most 
likely  dug— by  Asael  Smith.  In  the  old 


66 


DEDICATION  OF 


house  that  stood  on  this  site,  the  Pa- 
triarch Joseph  Smith  was  born  July  12. 
1771.  Asael  was  born  in  Topsfield, 
March  7,  1744;  the  greater  part  of  his 
early  life  was  spent  in  Topsfield,  but 
on  account  of  his  broad  religious  views, 
which  were  in  conflict  with  the  narrow 
creeds  of  the  people,  he  was  forced  to 
leave  the  town.  At  one  time  he  was 
fined  for  entertaining  a  Quaker,  which 
was  contrary  to  the  views  of  Popsfield's 
inhabitants  of  that  day.  Like  his  fath- 
er he  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  and  served  with  distinction 
during  that  remarkable  struggle  for 
freedom.  From  Topsfield  the  party  went 
to  Boxford  about  three  miles  north- 
west of  Topsfield,  and  visited  the  orig- 
inal farm  of  Robert  Smith,  which  is 
still  occupied  by  a  branch  of  the  fam- 
ily, descendants  of  Jacob,  son  of  Rob- 
ert. 

On  the  return  journey  to  Bos- 
ton they  called  on  Mr.  George 
Francis  Dow,  Secretary  of  the  Topsfield 
Historical  Society,  who  received  them 
very  cordially,  two  members  of  the 
party  having  made  his  acquaintance 
some  time  previous  to  this  visit.  Mr. 
Dow  has  compiled  a  great  deal  of  the 
genealogy  of  the  Smiths,  a  copy  of 
which  was  secured  by  the  family  a 
number  of  years  ago. 

Christmas  evening  the  Memorial  Par- 
ty left  Boston  for  Palmyra,  New  York, 
where  they  arrived  early  Tuesday 
morning,  the  26th.  Vehicles  were  in 
readiness  to  convey  them  to  Manches- 
ter Township,  where  Patriarch  Joseph 
Smith  and  his  family  resided,  after 
leaving  their  farm  in  Vermont.  At  the 
farm  they  were  very  heartily  welcomed 
by  Mr.  William  Avery  Chapman  and 
his  wife,  who  own  and  occupy  the  old 
Smith  farm,  with  the  grove  in  which 
the  Prophet  Joseph  received  his  first 
divine  manifestation. 

THE  OLD  SMITH  HOME. 

The  house  occupied  by  the  Chapmans 
was  built  by  the  Smiths,  and  was  com- 
pleted about  1824.  The  family  first  lived 
in  a  small  log  house  near  the  place 
/vher  this  home  now  stands.  The  new 
cottage  was  in  course  of  construction 


at  the  time  of  the  death  of  Alvin,  the 
Prophet's  oldest  brother,  whose  desire 
was  to  make  a  home  in  which  his  pa- 
rents could  spend  their  declining  years. 
While  in  his  fatal  illness,  he  pathetic- 
ally appealed  to  his  brothers— especial- 
ly to  Hyrum — to  go  on  and  speedily 
complete  the  dwelling,  which  was  done. 
But  the  family  was  not  permitted  to 
live  there  long,  for  a  short  time  after- 
wards the  Church  was  established  in 
Kirtland,  and  from  there  the  Saints 
went  to  Missouri  and  then  to  Nauvoo. 

There  are  two  relics  in  this  home,  of 
historical  interest— a  settee  and  a  heavy 
mahogany  table,  said  to  have  been 
made  by  President  Brigham  Young 
when  a  youth.  These  articles  were 
purchased  by  Mrs.  Fanny  Chapman, 
sister  of  the  present  owner  of  the  farm. 
The  tradition  of  the  place  is  that  it 
was  in  this  building  that  the  Prophet 
received  his  visitations  from  Moroni, 
but  since  the  house  was  not  finished 
until  after  the  death  of  Alvin,  in  1824, 
this  is  not  the  case;  although  it  is  very 
likely  that  a  portion  of  the  plates  were 
translated  there.  The  visions  were 
given  in  the  old  home,  now  torn  down, 
but  which  stood  but  a  few  rods  from 
the  present  dwelling. 

THE  SACRED   GROVE. 

From  the  home  the  '  party  went  to 
the  grove,  which  is  situated  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  home  and 
facing  it.  In  this  grove  of  some  five 
to  eight  acres,  the  trees  remain  un- 
touched. For  more  than  seventy 
years  no  ax  has  been  laid  at  their 
roots,  save  to  remove  the  dead  and  de- 
caying timber.  Mr.  Chapman.the  owner 
of  the  place,  declares  that  this  was 
the  will  of  his  father,  and  so  long  as 
the  property  is  in  his  possession  he 
will  protect  this  spot  in  its  native 
ruggedness.  In  this  grove  the  hymn, 
"Joseph  Smith's  First  Prayer,"  was 
sung  by  the  party,  and  the  grand  event 
was  recalled  which  opened  the  dispen- 
sation of  the  fulness  of  times,  by  the 
appearance  of  the  Father  and  the  Son 
to  Joseph,  in  answer  to  fervent  prayer 
of  faith.  On  the  way  to  and  rrom  this 
spot  a  small  creek  flowed  by,  where  a 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


67 


dam  had  been  constructed  at  one  time 
in  those  early  days  of  the  Church,  so 
as  to  raise  the-  water  for  the  baptism 
of  converts  to  the  faith. 

THE  HILIj   CUMORAH. 

The  party  then  proceeded  to  the  Hill 
Cumorah,  known  in  the  neighborhood 
as  "Mormon  hill."  A  cottage  at  its  base 
is  occupied  by  Mr.  Sampson  and  family, 
a  brother  of  the  late  Admiral  Sampson. 
Permission  having  been  granted,  the 
party  climbed  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  in- 
spected the  spot  on  its  side  where  a 
depression  was  noticed  as  the  probable 
place  where  the  stone  box  containing 
the  plates  projected  from  the  ground,  as 
described  in  the  history  of  the  Prophet. 
A  splendid  view  of  the  surrounding 
country  is  had  from  the  summit  of  the 
hill,  and  the  rnind  reverted  back  for 
many  centuries,  to  the  time  when  the 
contending  hosts  of  the  Jaredites 
fought  their  last  battle  around  the  emi- 
nence, then  called  the  Hill  Raman,  and 
later,  when  the  Nephites  and  Laman- 
ites  had  their  noted  final  struggle,  and 
Moroni  hid  up  the  sacred  records,  to 
come  forth  in  the  last  days  as  a  new 
witness  for  God  and  as  proof  that  Je- 
sus is  the  Christ. 

On  top  of  the  hill  the  hymn,  "An 
Angel  Prom  On  High,"  was  sung 
and  President  Joseph  F.  (  Smith 
offered  a  comprehensive  and  splen- 
did prayer,  which  brought  the 
tears  to  many  eyes,  and  softened  all 
hearts,  evoking  a  unanimous  Amen  at 
the  close.  He  prayed  that  every  one 
present  might  feel  the  solemnity  and 
sacredness  of  the  place,  and  of  the 
occasion.  He  prayed  that  each  one 
present  might  feel  a  deep  sense  of  the 
responsibility  in  spreading  that  message 
of  truth  'which  had  lain  so  long  con- 
cealed in  this  hill.  He  besought  the 
Lord  in  behalf  of  the  Presidency  of  the 
Church:  that  their  lives  might  be  pro- 
longed and  their  powers  increased  to 
enable  them  to  carry  out  the  mighty 
work  which  daily  opened  up  before 
them.  He  besought  the  Lord  in  be- 
half of  the  quorum  of  the  Twelve,  the 
Seventies,  the  presiding  authorities 
everywhere,  both  general  and  local,  the 
missionaries,  and  all  the  auxiliary  or- 


ganizations. Then  he  pleaded  for  our 
children;  that  they  might  be  impressed 
with  the  power  and  the  majesty  of 
the  great  latter-day  work,  that  has  now 
gone  forth  into  all  the  earth.  He 
asked  that  not  one  of  our  precious 
children  might  be  lost  or  go  astray. 
He  prayed  that  the  sacred  hill  might 
not  be  disturbed  and  that  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  country  round  about  might 
be  softened  in  their  felings  towards  us 
and  that  they  might  be  more  ready  to 
listen  to  the  truth.and  not  so  willing  to 
hear  and  believe  the  fables  told  about 
us.  The  voice  of  the  speaker  trembled 
with  emotion  as  he  remembered  the 
Prophet  who  had,  through  the  power  of 
God, made  the  truth  known  to  man.and 
whose  children  now  wander  in  darkness 
and  unbelief,  even  for  them  he  pleaded 
with  the  Lord,  that  their  eyes  might  be 
opened,  and  their  minds  enlightened  by 
truth  and  the  power  of  God.  Then  he 
remembered  our  farther  journeying  be- 
fore the  Lord  and  closed  by  pouring 
out  a  flood  of  gratitude  and  love  to 
the  Savior  who  had  brought  us  here 
and  who  had  Himself  lived,  suffered 
and  died  for  us  and  all  mankind. 

The  party  rejoiced  exceedingly  at 
this  fresh  manifestation  of  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Holy  Spirit,  testifying  to 
the  soul  the  truth  of  the  latter-day 
work  and  fortelling  its  ultimate  tri- 
umph over  all  opposing  powers. 

They  then  returned  to  Palmyra  and 
after  dinner  called  upon  Mr.  Pliney 
Titus  Sexton,  who,  it  was  stated,  pos- 
sessed the  "original  manuscript"  of  the 
Book  of  Mormon,  obtained  from  Major 
Gilbert,  who  did  the  printing  of  the 
work.  It  turned  out  to  be  simply  the 
first  sheets  of  the  printed  work,  un- 
bound, with  the  testimony  of  the  three 
witnesses  and  of  the  eight  witnesses  at 
the  end  of  the  volume  as  in  all  copies 
of  the  first  edition.  Mr.  Sexton  was 
very  courteous  and  kind,  and  handled 
the  relic  with  great  care,  turning  the 
leaves  over  with  a  pen  knife  to  avoid 
handling.  President  Smith  explained 
to  him  the  character  of  the  relic,  and 
told  him  that  the  original  manuscript 
of  the  Book  of  Mormon  was  enclosed 
in  the  cornerstone  in  the  foundation  of 
the  Mansion  house  in  Nauvoo,  and  that 


68 


DEDICATION   OF 


the  manuscript  held  by  the  Whitmers 
was  merely  the  copy  furnished  to  the 
printer.  Mr.  Sexton  stated  that  Major 
Gilbert  had  told  him  how  particular 
the  Smiths  were  in  regard  to  the 
manuscript.  That  they  only  brought 
him  sufficient  copy  for  one  day  and 
called  for  it  in  the  evening,  so  that 
it  would  not  be  left  in  any  other  hands. 
He  informed  the  party  that  the  orig- 
inal press  on  which  it  was  printed  was 
now  in  possession  of  the  editor  of  the 
Wayne  County  Gazette.  The  office  be- 
ing near  by,  the  party  went  there  an& 
inspected  the  press,  which  was  in  the 
basement  of  the  building  and  proved 
to  be  a  Washington  hand  press  of  the 
old  style,  but  still  in  good  preservation. 
Hon.  Fred  W.  Clements,  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  paper,  received  the 
visitors  very  kindly  and  took  pleasure 
in  giving  particulars  as  to  the  pur- 
chase of  the  press. 

THE  KIRTLAND  TEMPLE. 
The  party  boarded  their  train  on 
Tuesday  evening,  arrived  in  Cleveland 
on  Wednesday  morning  and  took  a 
special  electric  car  for  Willoughby, 
where  vehicles  were  obtained  for  a 
ride  over  the  rolling  country  to  Kirt- 
land,  going  at  a  slow  pace,  because 
of  the  condition  of  the  road  and  of  the 
hills  and  hollows,  at  the  old  fash- 
ioned ox-team  speed.  However,  Kirt- 
land  was  reached  at  length  and  the 
spire  of  the  temple  loomed  up,  being 
easily  seen  from  all  the  surrounding 
country.  The  party  arrived  unexpect- 
edly to  the  custodians  of  the  building, 
but  were  received  in  a  friendly  spirit 
and  escorted  through  the  historic 
structure.  It  was  in  very  excellent 
condition,  clean,  having  been  renovat- 
ed from  top  to  bottom  by  the  Re-or- 
ganized church  after  obtaining  pos- 
session of  it,  previous  to  which  it  had 
been  used  for  many  purposes,  and  had 
become  very  filthy  and  in  a  state  of 
desecration.  That  body  should  re- 
ceive due  credit  for  the  restoration  of 
the  Temple  as  nearly  as  possible  to 
them,  not  being  fully  acquainted  with 
its  purpose  and  ceremonies,  and  the 
party  were  highly  gratified  in  the  per- 
mission they  received  to  go  over  its 


different   apartments,   and     view     the 
places  where  the  Prophet  and  Patri- 
arch and  their  associates  attended  to 
those  early  ordinances  which  were  re- 
vealed  from  on  high.     It  was  in   the 
main    room    or    "inner    court,"    55x65 
feet  in  dimensions,  where  Joseph  and 
Oliver,   seated   in  that   portion  of  the 
pulpit  for  the  Melchisedek  Priesthood, 
which  belonged  to  their  sacred  calling, 
beheld  those  personages  who  appeared 
to    them    "on   the    breastwork    of    the 
pulpit,"  as  described  in  Doctrine  and 
Covenants,  section  110.     To  stand  near 
the  spot  where  the  Lord  appeared,  and 
the    heads    of    various      dispensations 
committed  their  keys  to   the  Prophet 
and  Seer  of  the  last  dispensation,  and 
where  Elijah  the  Prophet  revealed  the 
keys  for  the  "turning  of  the  hearts  of 
the    fathers   to    the   children    and    the 
children  to  the  fathers,"  leading  to  the 
grand  principles  which  explain  the  or- 
dinances   for    the    redemption    of    the 
dead,  was  indeed  inspiring  to  the  visit- 
ors, who  comprehended  the  nature  of 
the  latter-day  work  and  its  far-reach- 
ing power  and  influence  on  the  earth 
and  behind  the  veil.      But   there  was 
a   marked   absence    of   the    spirit  and 
sacred    influence    which    pervade    the 
Temples  of  our  God  in  the  valleys  of 
the   mountains,   where   the   fulness   of 
the    Priesthood    is   felt    and    exercised 
in  that  degree  which  is  known  to  the 
Saints  who  are  privileged  to  enter  into 
those  sacred  places. 

The  party  was  very  courteously 
treated  by  Ulysses  W.  Green,  who  is 
one  of  the  apostles  of  the  Re-organized 
church,  by  John  H.  Lake,  a  former 
apostle  and  now  one  of  the  evange- 
lists of  that  body,  and  Albert  E.  Stone, 
who  takes  charge  of  the  edifice.  Mr. 
Green  showed  himself  to  be  an  intelli- 
gent, affable  and  apparently  sincere 
gentleman,  and  the  party  felt  under 
obligations  to  him  for  his  endeavors  to 
explain  to  them  the  purposes  for  which 
the  temple  was  reared  and  is  now  used. 
They  went  to  the  upper  room,  where 
the  school  of  the  Prophets  used  to 
meet,  and  to  the  still  higher  apart- 
ments, where  the  classes  of  the  differ- 
ent quorums  of  the  Priesthood  were 
wont  to  assemble.  'Going  up  to  the 


JOSEPH  SMITH  MONUMENT. 


69 


roof,  a  number  of  the  party  had  a  fine 
view  of  the  surrounding  country, 
showing  the  wisdom  of  the  choice 
made  for  the  site  of  the  edifice.  The 
spots  where  stood  the  tannery,  the 
Kirtland  bank,  the  home  of  the  Prophet 
and  that  of  Hyrum  and  his  father, 
where  the  Patriarch  John  Smith  was 
born,  were  viewed  from  that  point.  It 
was  noticeable  on  inspecting  the  main 
room  of  the  building  that  the  original 
workmanship,  particularly  -around  the 
pulpits  for  the  Melchisedek  and  Aaron- 
ic  Priesthoods,  was  of  a  very  high  or- 
der. The  late  President  Brigham 
Young  and  his  brother  Joseph  Young 
were  workmen  on  that  building,  and 
the  marks  of  their  skill  and  that  of 
others  who  were  engaged  upon  it  are 
seen  to  this  day.  The  glazing  work 
of  the  windows  is  also  to  be  admired, 
and  it  is  plain  that  the  greatest  care 
was  taken  to  make  the  whole  edifice 
worthy  of  its  purpose.  Considering 
the  circumstances  that  surrounded  the 
.Saints  at  that  remote  period,  their  pov- 
erty and  the  trials  to  which  they  were 
subjected,  the  building  is  a  marvel.  It 
is  a  testimony  to  heaven  and  earth  of 
the  sincerity  and  devotion  of  that  peo- 
ple and  of  the  mastermind  of  the  young 
man  who,  chosen  of  the  Lord,  im- 
pressed upon  everything  he  touched 
the  indications  of  his  judgment  and 
skill  and  inspiration.  The  party  reg- 
istered their  names  on  the  records  in 
the  office,  and  after  leaving  the  build- 
ing paid  particular  attention  to  the  in- 
scription on  its  front,  which  is  as  fol- 
lows: 


House  of  the  Lord. 
Built  by  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of 

Latter-day  Saints  1834. 
Reorganized  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of 
Latter-day   Saints  in  Succession 
by  Decision  of  Court  Feb- 
ruary,  1880. 

"By  order  of  the  court"  appeared  to 
the  party  a  very  poor  and  insufficient 
claim  without  a  vestige  of  proof  of 
divine  authority.  No  "order  of  the 
court"  can  transmit  the  succession  of 
the  Holy  Priesthood  or  of  the  spirit, 
power  and  religious  rights  of  the 
Church  established  by  revelation  from 


God.  These  are  not  within  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  any  civil  tribunal.  The  legal 
possession  of  the  Kirtland  Temple  was 
not  contested  by  the  Church  and  no 
appearance  was  made  for  it  at  the  trial 
instituted  by  the  "Reorganizers."  The 
title  to  the  property  is  one  thing,  the 
succession  of  the  Church  authorities  is 
another  and  different  thing  involving 
prinicples  that  no  worldly  opinion  or 
edict  can  affect  either  in  time  or  in 
eternity.  But  the  party  was  not  there 
for  argument  or  protest  and  while  say- 
ing nought,  kept  up  considerable 
thinking. 

AROUND  KIRTLAND. 

President  Smith  and  a  little  party  of 
his  kinsmen  visited  the  former  home 
of  his  father  and  also  a  lady  by  the 
name  of  Keziah  Turk,  who  related  some 
very  interesting  reminiscences  concern- 
ing the  old  times  in  Kirtland.  She  had 
heard  Hyrum  Smith  preach,  and  she 
spoke  of  a  Presbyterian  minister  who 
also  heard  him  and  who  pronounced 
him  a  "perfect  gentleman."  The  Whit- 
ney store,  the  residence  of  the  Johnsons 
and  of  other  old  inhabitants  at  Kirt- 
land were  viewed  with  interest,  and 
after  bidding  farewell  to  Mr.  Green  and 
his  associates,  with  heartfelt  thanks  for 
their  courtesy,  the  party  returned  by 
the  same  tortoise-like  process  to  Wil- 
loughby,  where  they  dined  and  then  re- 
turned to  Cleveland,  passing  along 
Euclid  avenue,  said  to  be  the  finest  in 
the  United  States,  and  which  runs  a 
distance  of  nine  miles,  containing  on 
either  side  many  handsome  residences. 
On  the  way,  the  party  visited  the  Gar- 
field  monument,  a  huge  structure,  more 
remarkable  for  its  magnitude  than  its 
beauty  on  the  outside,  but  the  interior 
afforded  great  satisfaction.  The  ceme- 
tery grounds  surrounding  it  are  very 
fine,  and  the  tall  shafts  denoting  spots 
where  prominent  citizens  are  interred, 
are  tokens  of  the  wealth  of  the  Cleve- 
land magnates  and  their  respect  for 
the  honored  dead.  One  noted  spot  In 
Cleveland  was  seen  by  the  party,  among 
other  attractions,  and  that  was  the 
monument  erected  to  the  memory  of 
the  soldiers  of  that  city  who  fell  in  the 
battles  for  the  Union.  It  is  a  splendid 


70 


DEDICATION  OF 


tribute  to  their  honor  and  a  magnifi- 
cent work  of  art.  There  was  not  time 
to  go  through  the  entire  city,  but  evi- 
dences were  seen  on  every  hand  of  its 
growth,  progress  and  rapid  advance- 
ment from  the  position  it  occupied  a 
few  years  ago. 

GREAT    WORKS    AT    KBNOSHA. 

On  Thursday  morning  the  party 
reached  Chicago  and  were  met 
by  Mr.  Frank  Slosson,  represent- 
ing the  Bain  Wagon  Company, 
who  conducted  them  to  break- 
fast at  the  Northwestern  depot, 
and  then  to  Kenosha  in  a  special  car 
provided  by  Vice  President  H.  R.  Mc- 
Cullough.  It  was  an  elegant  and  com- 
fortable private  coach,  and  General 
Freight  Agent  Edmund  B.  Brigham 
kindly  accompanied  the  party  to  Ke- 
nosha. It  was  a  delightful  ride,  the 
speed  being  from  35  to  68  miles  per 
hour  as  registered  by  the  indicator  at 
the  rear  end  of  the  car.  The  train* 
halted  for  a  short  time  to  give  a  good 
view  of  Donvie's  Zion  City,  which  ex- 
hibited evidences  of  great  activity  in 
manufactures,  several  large  buildings 
for  those  purposes  being  in  sight,  and 
a  number  of  comfortable  looking  dwell- 
ings. The  whole  scene  showed  that 
whatever  may  be  the  vain  pretensions 
of  the  so-called  ''Elijah,  the  Third,"  his 
energy,  skill,  and  foresight  in  material 
matters  are  not  to  be  denied  or  be- 
littled. When  Kenosha  was  reached 
President  George  Yule  was  at  hand  to 
conduct  the  company  through  the  far- 
famed  Bain  Wagon  Works,  particulars 
of  which  would  make  a  volume.  Col. 
Strong  was  also  very  attentive  to  the 
visitors,  and  the  remarkable  devices  in 
use  for  the  sawing  and  cutting  out  of 
hard-wood  timbers  into  hubs,  spokes, 
felloes,  reaches,  tongues,  boxes,  etc, 
etc.,  and  for  the  making  and  welding  of 
the  iron  and  steel  portions  of  the  ve- 
hicles manufactured,  Werte  hurriedly 
inspected.  Everything  seen  gave  evi- 
dence of  thoroughness  and  excellence, 
and  told  the  story  of  the  reason  why 
the  Bain  wagon  is  such  a  general  favor- 
ite, particularly  in  mountain  and  min- 
ing regions.  After  traveling  over  many 
acres  of  shops  and  works,  the  party 
were  taken  in  carriages  to  the  Pennoyer 


Sanitarium,  where  a  splendid  dinner 
was  provided  of  which  all  partook  with 
a  good  relish,  and  were  most  kindly  re- 
ceived by  Dr.  Pennoyer  and  his  wife, 
who  conduct  an  institution  which  has 
gained  great  fame  for  the  restoration 
of  invalids  who  sojourn  at  the  well- 
appointed  and  commodious  establish- 
ment under  their  direction. 

The  party  then  went  through  the 
Jeffries  Automobile  factory  at  Kenosha, 
under  the  guidance  of  Mr.  G.  W.  Ben- 
nett, and  witnessed  the  process  of  con- 
structing those  remarkable  road  ma- 
chines from  the  smallest  portion  to  the 
perfect  carriage,  and  were  informed 
that  the  company  completed,  on  an 
average,  two  automobiles  each  working 
hour.  Some  of  the  most  beautiful 
specimens  of  the  work  were  arranged 
in  long  lines  and  counted  up  many 
scores  in  number.  These  were  all  en- 
gaged for  sale  and  orders  were  too 
great  to  fill  immediately,  but  had  to 
wait  their  turn.  The  party  were  then 

AT    RACINE. 

conveyed  to  Racine,  where  they  went 
through  the  Racine-Sattley  Carriage 
works  under  the  auspices  of  H.  E. 
Miles,  president  of  the  company,  and 
attended  by  Secy.  H.  G.  Moore.  These 
also  proved  a  source  of  wonder  and  ad- 
miration for  the  ingenuity  and  skill 
displayed  and  the  excellence  of  the 
work  conducted.  The  next  visit  was 
to  the  J.  I.  Case  Plow  &  Treshing 
Machine  Works,  where  Mr.  F.  Lee 
Norton,  the  general  manager,  and  Mr. 
Gittins,  sales  manager,  showed  the 
party  through  the  establishment.  While 
taking  a  view,  from  the  gallery  above, 
of  the  magnificent  business  depart- 
ment, with  its  beautiful  appointments 
and  facilities  for  the  hundreds  of  clerks 
and  heads  of  departments,  the  electric 
lights  suddenly  went  out,  leaving  the 
spectators  in  the  dark.  They  waited 
for  a  while,  as  the  lights  flickered  oc- 
casionally, giving  promise  of  re- 
appearance, but  when  it  was  evident 
that  some  time  would  elapse  before 
they  would  shine  out  again,  the  party 
departed. 

The  company  returned  with  similar 
speed  to  that  on  the  outward  trip, 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


71 


Mesrs.  Slosson  and  Brigham  accom- 
panying them  most  of  the  way,  also 
Mr.  D.  E.  Terpning,  assistant  superin- 
tendent of  the  Wells  street  department 
of  the  Northwestern.  The  company 
sang  several  songs  for  the  enjoyment 
of  the  gentlemen  who  had  escorted 
them,  and  Mr.  Slosson,  on  behalf  of  the 
Bain  Wagon  company,  expressed  his 
gratification  at  receiving  Prsident  Jo- 
seph F.  Smith  and  his  associates  and 
his  regrets  at  the  shortness  of  their 
stay.  C.  W.  Penrose  was  called  upon 
for  a  speech  and  responded  humorously, 
and  at  the  same  time  expressed  the 
gratitude  of  the  party  for  the  courte- 
sies that  had  been  extended  to  them. 

THE  STOCK  YARDS. 
On  reaching  Chicago  it  was  learned 
that  the  Bain  Wagon  company  which 
had  so  royally  entertained  the  party 
had  provided  30  seats  for  them  in  the 
parquet  of  the  Powers  theater,  where 
they  saw  Maxine  Elliott  and  her  tal- 
ented company  perform  "Her  Own 
Way,"  which  was  greatly  enjoyed. 
Friday  was  spent  in  different  ways  by 
the  members  of  the  party,  but  by  the 
greater  part  of  the  company  in  going 
through  the  Swift  company's  stock 
yards.  Here  also  space  forbids  a  de- 
scription of  the  various  departments 


of  that  mammoth  establishment  where 
hogs,  sheep  and  cattle  were  led  to  the 
slaughter,  despatched  with  wonderful 
celerity,  skinned,  divided,  cleansed,  cut 
up,  cooled,  and  prepared  for  the  mar- 
ket, everything  being  done  like  clock- 
work, each  hand  knowing  his  own  par- 
ticular part  of  the  business  and  per- 
forming it  without  hesitation  or  a  blun- 
der. The  manufacture  of  sausages,  of 
lard,  of  oleomargarine,  and  of  soap  was 
also  witnessed,  and  enough  was  seen 
to  satisfy  the  most  exacting.  The 
cleanliness  and  thoroughness  with 
which  all  the  work  is  conducted  in 
that  great  establishment  was  a  source 
of  astonishment  to  all  beholders,  and 
the  perfection  of  arrangements  to  turn 
out  the  different  meats  in  condition  to 
suit  the  daintiest  appetite,  was  the 
real  charm  of  the  entire  business.  Spe- 
cial attention  was  paid  to  the  party  in 
every  department,  and  thanks  are  due 
to  the  Swift  company  and  its  officers  for 
the  courtesies  extended.  The  weather 
in  Chicago  formed  the  only  unpleasant- 
ness of  the  journey,  as  it  rained  or 
snowed  nearly  all  the  time.  President 
Smith  visited  President  A.  E.  Meyer  of 
the  International  Harvester  Co.,  also 
Mr.  J.  T.  Callahan  of  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern,  whose  attentions  to  the 
company  were  highly  appreciated. 


Services  in  Chicago. 


Friday  evening  meeting  was  held  in 
the  Latter-day  Saints'  chapel,  corner  of 
Monroe  and  South  Paulina  streets, 
which  is  an  elegant  and  commodious 
place  of  worship.  The  services  were 
conducted  by  President  German  E. 
Ellsworth.  The  choir  with  the  pipe 
organ  renered  excellent  "Mormon" 
music,  and  a  quartet  was  given  by  El- 
ders laboring  in  Chicago.  The  congrega- 
tion was  large,  filling  the  floor  of  the 
chapel  and  including  a  number  of 
strangers  and  inquirers. 

The  opening  prayer  was  offered  by 
Elder  Benjamin  Goddard. 

ELDER  JOHN   HENRY   SMITH. 

My  brethren  and  sisters  and  friends, 
I  am  most  happy  in  the  privilege 
of  meeting  with  you  here  tonight, 
and  I  trust  we  may  enjoy  the  spirit  of 
the  good  work  which  our  heavenly 
Father  has  established.  The  Gospel  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  says  the  Apostle 
Paul,  is  the  power  of  God  unto  sal- 
vation. I  hope  that  all  of  us  are  de- 
sirous of  becoming  conversant  with 
that  Gospel.and  that  our  purpose  in  life 
is  to  learn  the  truth  and  to  be  governed 
by  it  as  we  move  forward  in  the  ful- 
fillment of  our  destinies  among  man- 
kind. 

That  which  the  Latter-day  Saints  de- 
clare to  the  world  as  the  Gospel  is 
either  true  or  false.  There  can  be  but 
one  religion  in  the  world  that  is  ap- 
proved and  accepted  by  the  Almighty. 
No  matter  what  our  own  views  or  edu- 
cation may  have  been,  if  the  Christi- 
anity of  the  Redeemer  is  in  the.  world 
it  is  here  to  fulfill  its  great  mission  of 
the  regeneration  of  the  human  race, 
to  bring  the  great  family  of  our  heav- 
enly Father  into  a  grand  union  and  un- 
to the  acceptance  of  that  "one  Lord; 


one  faith,  one  baptism,  one  God  and 
Father  of  all;"  and  until  we  shall  reach 
that  condition  we  cannot  claim  in  trufh 
to  have  the  genuine  Christianity.  If 
our  Catholic  brothers  have  the  Chris- 
tianity designed  by  our  Savior,  then  our 
Protestant  brothers  do  not  have  it. 
If  any  section  of  the  Protestant  world 
has  the  true  Christianity  of  the  Re- 
deemer, then  our  Catholic  brothers  do 
not  have  it.  The  declaration  of  the 
divine  voice  that  an  angel  of  the  Al- 
mighty should  fly  through  the  midst  of 
heaven,  having  the  everlasting  Gospel 
to  preach  to  every  nation,  to  every  kin- 
dred, to  every  tongue,  and  to  every 
people,  is  presumptive  evidence  that  at 
that  particular  time,  at  least,  the  worj,d 
would  be  in  darkness,  so  far  as  the  true 
Gospel  was  concerned;  and  inasmuch 
as  time  has  continued  to  roll  on  and 
we  have  not  reached  the  unity  of  the 
faith,  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  'the 
Gospel  in  its  fulness  and  purity  has  not 
been  among  the  children  of  men  ever 
since  the  meridian  of  time. 

The  message  of  the  latter-day  Prophet 
is  a  declaration  to  the  world  that  the 
Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  has  been  re- 
stored, a  witness  to  the  truth  of  the 
mission  of  the  Redeemer  and  to  the 
doctrines  essential  for  our  observance, 
that  we  may  indeed  be  redeemed  by  the 
blood  of  Christ.  If  the  gifts  and  graces 
of  the  Gospel  and  the  keys  of  the 
Priesthood  were  in  the  world  when  Jo- 
seph Smith  came,  then  his  mission  was 
to  no  purpose;  but  if  an  examination 
into  the  facts  will  demonstrate  fairly 
and  clearly  that  the  doctrines  an- 
nounced by  the  Savior  of  the  world  and 
taught  by  His  Apostles  were  not  to  be 
found  among  the  children  of  men,  and 
no  section  of  the  great  Christian  world 
was  following  its  precepts,  then  the 
world  lay  in  darkness,  and  there  was 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


73 


need  for  the  visitation  of  that  heaven- 
ly messenger  having  the  Everlasting 
Gospel  to  preach  to  them  that  dwelt 
upon  the  earth.  If  they  had  arrived 
at  the  unity  of  the  faith;  if  they  had 
reached  that  union  of  purpose  and  {hat 
complete  understanding  characteristic 
of  the  Christianity  of  the  Redeemer, 
then  the  mission  of  Joseph  Smith  was 
in  no  sense  essential  to  the  good  of  the 
human  family.  But  they  had  not  reach- 
ed that  condition! 

The  efforts  of  the  Latter-day  Saints 
since  the  introduction  of  the  Christian- 
ity of  the  Redeemer  through  the  Proph- 
et Joseph  Smith  have  demonstrated  the 
necessity  of  the  preaching  of  that  Gos- 
pel in  its  fulness  and  purity.  The  Lat- 
ter-day Saints  come  forward  and  de- 
clare that  the  world  was  without  the 
true  Christianity,  and  that  if  Joseph 
Smith  did  not  receive  the  message  of 
the  angel,  if  the  keys  and  ordinances  of 
the  Lord's  house  and  the  Holy  Priest- 
hood are  not  among  the  children  of  men 
today  as  a  result  of  the  administration 
of  the  heavenly  messenger  that  John 
saw  flying  in  the  midst  of  heaven,  then 
that  messenger  has  still  to  come  and 
there  is  great  need  for  his  coming,  that 
the  Gospel  may  be  restored  and  man- 
kind brought  to  a  unity  of  the  faith. 

Mr.  brothers  and  my  sisters,  it  is  not 
my  purpose  to  speak  more  than  a  few 
minutes;  but  I  desire  to  leave  with 
you  this  testimony,  that  the  visitation 
of  the  heavenly  messenger  has  occur- 
red in  our  day;  that  the  truth  has  been 
restored  in  its  fulness  and  purity;  that 
it  has  come  to  stay;  that  It  will  never 
again  be  taken  from  the  earth,  nor 
given  to  another  people,  but  that  it 
will  be  preached  among  the  nations  of 
the  earth  and  upon  the  islands  of  the 
sea;  that  the  purposes  of  the  Almighty 
will  be  brought  about,  and  that  the 
children  of  men  will  be  brought  to  a 
unity  of  the  faith  and  an  acceptance 
of  the  Christianity  given  to  the  world 
by  the  Redeemer  himself,  in  His  own 
way  and  in  His  own  time. 

That  the  Lord  may  bring  us  to.  this 
understanding,  that  we  may  know  of 
this  truth  for  ourselves,  and  be  enabled 
to  bear  witness  to  it,  is  my  prayer  in 
your  interest  and  in  the  interest  of  all 


our   Father's   great  family,   and  I  ask 
.it  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ.  Amen. 

PRESIDENT  FRANCIS  M.  LYMAN. 

My  brethren  and  sisters  and  friends 
here  tonight,  I  am  greatly  pleased 
with  this  privilege.  A  little  party 
of  Latter-day  Saints  have  just 
been  on  a  visit  to  the  state  of  Ver- 
mont, the  birthplace  of  the  Prophet 
Joseph  Smith,  to  dedicate  a  monument 
to  his  memory.  Tonight  we  meet  with 
you  in  my  native  state— the  state  in 
which  the  Prophet  found  his  sepulchre. 
I  was  born  in  the  state  of  Illinois,  early 
enough  to  remember  seeing  the  pro- 
phet, and  I  have  become  well  acquaint- 
ed with  the  work  that  he  established, 
and  have  been  with  the  Latter-day 
Saints  all  my  life.  My  parents  were 
Latter-day  Saints  eight  years  before  I 
was  born,  and  I  have  always  been  con- 
nected with  the  people.  I  have  lived 
with  them,  traveled  with  them,  and  am 
well  acquainted  with  them,  and  my 
testimony  in  regard  to  them  will,  I 
trust,  be  accepted  as  altogether  reli- 
able. I  would  be  considered  a  friendly 
witness  in  regard  to  the  doctrines  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  as  revealed  through 
the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith,  and  in  re- 
gard to  the  Latter-day  Saints;  for  I 
have  been  devoted  to  these  doctrines, 
and  they  have  been  my  meat  and  drink 
and  my  life.  I  knew  the  Prophet 
Joseph  as  a  child  would  know  him.  I 
remember  him — the  man  who  received 
the  visit  from  the  Father  and  the  S'on, 
and  who  established  this  work  over  75 
years  ago.  I  have  known  his  successors 
in  my  manhood,  was  acquainted  with 
them  personally  and  intimately,  and 
know  them  to  have  been  great  and  good 
men.honest,  conscientious,  virtuous  and 
God-fearing,  who  have  done  as  much  as 
men  could  do,  with  the  ability  they  pos- 
sessed, for  the  happiness  of  mankind, 
for  the  salvation  of  men.  The  doctrines 
that  they  have  taught  and  advocated, 
and  which  the  Latter-day  Saints  live 
by,  are  indeed  the  doctrines  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  and  the  power  of  God  un- 
to salvation,  of  which  Paul  was  not 
ashamed,  of  which  we  are  not  ashamed, 


74 


DEDICATION  OF 


and    in    which    all    men    should    feel    a 
pride. 

The     Lord     has     revealed     the     way 
of     life.       He     has     called     all     men 
to    have    faith    in    Him,    to    repent    of 
sin,    to   be   baptized    for  the   remission 
of   sin.       He   has     commissioned   men, 
commencing  with  the  Prophet  Joseph 
in   the   last   century,   with   that   divine 
authority  which  is  so  necessary  for  the 
salvation  of  the  children  of  men— au- 
thority to  preach,  to  teacn,  to  expound, 
and  to  minister  in  the  ordinances  of  the 
Gospel,  that  men  may  be  baptized  for 
the  remission  of  their  sins  and  receive 
the  Holy  Ghost,  as  the  Holy  Ghost  was 
enjoyed  in  the  days  of  the  Savior,  and 
upon   the  same  principle   that  He   re- 
ceived   that    great    and    precious    gift 
Himself,  through  His  faith  in  His  Fa- 
ther, and  through  His  obedience;    and 
it  would  have  been  necessary  for  Him 
to  have  repented  if  He  had  been  a  sin- 
ner, but  being  the  only  man  who  lived 
without  sin,  He  had  no  occasion  to  re- 
pent.     It  was  necessary,  however,  ac- 
cording to  the  law,  that  He  laid  down 
Himself,  that  He  should  be  born  of  the 
water  and  of  the  Spirit,  in  order  that 
He  could  enter  into  the  kingdom  ;  for 
He   declared    that    "except   a    man    be 
born  of  the  water  and  of  the  Spirit,  he 
cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God." 
Jesus  was  born  of  the  water.    He  was 
also   born   of  the    Spirit;    for   we  read 
that  when  He  came  up  out  of  the  water, 
after  being  baptized  of  John  in  Jordan, 
the  Holy   Ghost  descended   upon   Him 
from  the  Father.       In  this   experience 
of  the  Son  of  God  we  have  a  most  per- 
fect   example   of  the   way  of   life  and 
salvation   for   all   men.       Jesus   is   the 
way,   the  life,   the  gate,   and  by     and 
through  Him  men  may  enter  into  the 
kingdom.      There  is  no  other  door  into 
the  sheepfold.      Though  we  find  today 
in  the  Christian  world  a  great  variety 
of  ways  and  modes  of  initiating  men 
and  women  into  the  churches,  yet  there 
can   be  but   one  true  way.       There  is 
but   one   Gospel,   one  Father,   one   Son 
and  Savior,  one  faith,  one  repentance, 
one  baptism,  one  Holy  Ghost.      I  have 
listened  on  many      occasions      to  my 
Christian  friends,      and     have  studied 


their   views    in   regard   to   the  plan  of 
life   and   salvation,    and   I   have  found 
none    of    them    so    simple,    so    reason- 
able and  so  agreeable  to  the  truth  as 
the    doctrines    laid    down   in   the    New 
Testament,    as    taught    by    the    Savior 
Himself,    and    by   His     Apostles,     who 
were  chosen  and  ordained  by  Him,  and 
commanded  to  go  into  all  the  world  to 
preach  the  Gospel  unto  every  creature. 
"He  that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall 
be    saved,    and    he    that    believeth    not 
shall    be    damned."       That    is    a    very 
positive    assertion    of   the    Savior,    and 
can  be   depended  upon.       This    Gospel 
was   to    be   preached      throughout   the 
world,  and  all  were  to  have  the  privi- 
lege of  hearing  and  judging  for  them- 
selves,   of   receiving   or  rejecting;    and 
those   who   had   faith,   who   were   bap- 
tized and  received  the  Holy  Ghost, were 
to  enjoy  the  gifts  of  the  Gospel.     The 
signs  were  to  follow  the  believer.      In 
the  name  of  the  Lord  they  were  to  cast 
out  evil  spirits,  they  were  to  speak  with 
new  tongues  and  to  have  the  interpre- 
tation of  tongues,  they  were  to  be  en- 
dowed with  wisdom,  and  they  were  al- 
so entitled  to  receive  from  the  Father 
the    same    kind    of    revelation    as   was 
given  to  Peter,  the  chief  of  the  Apos- 
tles,   which    made    him    to    know   that 
Jesus  was  the  Christ.      So  may  all  men 
receive  this  knowledge;  for  if  any  man 
shall  do  the  will  of  the  Father,  he  shall 
know  of  the  doctrine,  said  the  Savior. 
If  you   will  notice,   Jesus   made    these 
declarations  very  positive,  and  He  sur- 
prised the  religious  world  about  Him; 
for  He  spoke,  not  as  the   Scribes  and 
Pharisees,  but  as  one  having  authority. 
He  was  commissioned  of  His   Father, 
and    the   commission    He   gave   to    His 
Apostles  was  like  that  which     He  re- 
ceived  Himself  from   the   Father.     He 
was  in  the  world  to  do  the  will  of  His 
Father,   and   He   spoke   as    the   Father 
directed  Him.       He  spoke  by  the  gift 
and  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the 
Holy  Ghost  bore  record  of  the  Father. 
So    it    was    with    Peter    and    with    his 
fellow  Apostles.       The  Holy  Ghost  fell 
upon  them  in  answer  to  their  repent- 
ance and  baptism,  and  they  spake  with 
tongues,    they    prophesied,    and       they 


JOSEPH  SMITH  MONUMENT. 


75 


enjoyed  the  gifts  and  graces  of  the 
Gospel  in  that  day. 

Now,  my  brother  has  referred 
to  the  restoration  of  the  Gos- 
pel in  this  day.  And  who  cannot  see, 
looking  without  prejudice  upon  the 
matter,  that  it  was  really  necessary 
that  the  Lord  should  speak  from  heav- 
en in  regard  to  Himself?  Has  it  not 
been  necessary  that  there  should  be 
a  witness  for  God  in  the  earth?  Who 
is  there  among  all  the  Christian  world 
that  can  stand  up  and  tell  us  who 
God  is,  and  who  the  Son  of  God  is? 
"Who  hath  seen  them,  that  they  might 
be  in  a  position  to  bear  witness  of 
them?  Since  the  Savior  and  the 
Apostles  fell  asleep,  what  prophet, 
what  men  have  arisen  who  have  borne 
witness  of  the  Father  and  made  it 
clear  unto  the  children  of  men  as  to 
who  and  what  He  is.  and  as  to  who 
and  what  the  Son  of  God  is? 

Now,  we  have  learned,  through  the 
revelations  of  the  Lord  Jesus  to  the 
Prophet  Joseph,  that  the  Father  and 
the  Son  are  in  the  express  image  of 
each  other;  that,  as  announced  in  the 
scripture,  the  Son  is  the  express  image 
and  likeness  of  His  Father.  The  world 
had  come  largely  to  believe  that  the 
Father  was  not  a  personage;  but  the 
Father  of  the  Lord  Jesus  is  just  as 
surely  a  personage  of  tabernacle,  as 
that  my  father  was  a  personage  of 
tabernacle.  Jesus  was  born  into  this 
world  as  you  and  I  were  born,  begotten 
of  His  Father,  and  in  the  very  like- 
ness and  image  of  His  Father.  He 
grew  from  infancy  to  childhood,  from 
childhood  to  manhood,  and  developed 
the  strength  and  power  of  a  man.  He 
was  subject  to  the  will  of  His  Father 
in  all  things,  as  all  of  the  children 
of  men  should  be.  He  listened  to  his 
councel  and  received  the  truth  from 
Him.  And  as  He  and  His  Father  are 
one,  in  doctrine,  in  principle,  in  power, 
in  majesty  and  might,  so  should  the 
children  of  men  be  one.  You  should  not 
be  pitted  against  me,  I  should  not  be 
pitted  agaist  you;  but  we  should  be 
in  harmony,  we  should  have  but  the 
one  faith,  the  one  baptism,  and  our 
faith  in  God  should  be  just  as  im- 
plicit and  unshaken  as  the  faith  of  the 


Son.  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  do 
the  will  of  the  Father.  Have  not  we 
come  into  the  world  to  do  the  will  of 
the  Father?  Was  it  any  more  neces- 
sary for  the  salvation  of  the  Son  of 
God  that  He  should  do  the  will  of  the 
Father  than  it  is  that  you  and  I 
should  do  the  will  of  the  Father?  Have 
we  not  been  sent  on  that  same  mis- 
sion? Are  we  not  as  precious  in  the 
eyes  of  our  Father,  according  to  our 
virtue  and  goodness  and  devotion  to 
Him,  as  our  Elder  Brother,  Jesus,  the 
Savior  of  the  world?  If  He  walked  in 
purity  before  the  Lord,  is  not  that  the 
correct  and  proper  example  for  you 
and  me?  Is  it  not  important  that  we 
find  out  whether  we  are  in  communica- 
tion with  the  Father,  and  whether  the 
heavens  are  opened  for  us?  Is  it  not 
as  necessary  that  the  Holy  Ghost 
should  descend  upon  me  and  inspire  me 
as  well  as  the  Son  of  God?  We  are 
weaker  than  He  was;  we  are  sinful, 
He  was  not;  therefore,  we  have  the 
greater  need  of  faith  and  repentance, 
and  the  greater  need  to  work  righteous- 
ness and  do  the  will  of  God,  than  He 
had.  Why  then  shall  we  not  make  it 
the  important  question  of  our  lives  to 
know  the  Father,  to  become  acquainted 
with  Him,  and  to  find  out  which  of 
all  the  churches  in  the  world  is  the 
one  that  He  has  established?  Let  every 
Christian  man  examine  his  own  faith, 
and  question  himeslf  as  to  where  he 
stands,  and  as  to  whether  he  is  In 
harmony  with  the  will  of  the  Father. 
Has  he  taken  the  step  that  Jesus  took? 
Has  he  submitted  his  will  to  the  will 
of  the  Father?  Has  he  done  the  will 
of  the  Lord?  For  the  promise  was 
laid  down  by  the  Savior— and  none 
can  be  laid  down  better— that  he  who 
would  do  the  will  of  the  Father  should 
know  of  the  doctrine.  How  important 
it  is  that  we  should  know  of  the  doc- 
trine! Are  we  Christians,  in  fellow- 
ship with  the  Son  of  God,  and  do  not 
know  whether  the  doctrines  we  have 
received  are  true?  If  we  do  not  know, 
then  we  may  rest  assured  that  we 
have  not  quite  done  the  will  of  the 
Lord,  whether  we  be  Latter-day  Saints, 
Roman  Catholics,  Protestants,  or  of 
any  other  denomination.  If  a  man  does 


76 


DEDICATION   OF 


not  know  God  and  Jesus  Christ  whom 
He  hath  sent,  if  he  has  not  within  him 
the  witness  of  the  Father  and  of  the 
Son,  it  is  because  he  has  not  done  the 
will  of  the  Father;  for  Jesus  said— and 
let  Jesus  be  true,  though  every  man 
be  false— that  if  any  man  will  do  the 
will  of  the  Father,  he  shall  know  of 
the  doctrine.  This  is  within  the  reach 
of  every  man  who  has  a  measure  of 
faith  in  the  Father  and  the  Son  to 
approach  them  acceptably  and  prop- 
erly. 

As  Latter-day  Saints,  we  go  into  the 
world  and  present  our  faith;  and  we 
promise  every  man  who  will  sincerely 
humble  himself  before  the  Lord  and 
have  faith,  repent  of  his  sins,  and  with 
a  broken  heart  and  a  contrite  spirit  be 
baptized  for  the  remission  of  his  sins, 
that  he  shall  receive  from  the  Father- 
not  from  the  Elders  of  this  Church— 
the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost  by  the  lay- 
ing on  of  hands,  just  as  Peter  promised 
upon  the  day  of  Pentecost,  when  the 
people  were  pricked  in  their  hearts  and 
wanted  to  know  what  they  should  do. 
They  believed  in  the  message  and  testi- 
mony of  Peter;  they  were  convicted  in 
their  hearts  of  the  death  of  Jesus,  and 
they  were  convinced  of  the  doctrines 
that  Peter  taught;  so  they  cried  out, 
Men  and  brethren,  what  shall  we  do? 
Peter  answered,  Repent  every  one  of 
you,  and  be  baptized  in  the  name  of 
Jesus  Christ  for  the  remission  of  sins, 
and  ye  shall  receive  the  gift  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  Is  that  good  doctrine?  That 
is  the  doctrine  the  Latter-day  Saints 
teach.  We  have  practised  it  now  for 
75  years,  with  the  result  that  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  Latter-day  Saints  are 
gathered  together,  having  come  from 
many  of  the  nations  of  the  earth,  and 
they  will  ultimately  be  gathered  from 
all  nations.  There  is  not  a  nation  un- 
der heaven  that  shall  not  hear  the 
sound  of  the  Gospel;  for  we  will  take  it 
to  them,  and  preach  it  without  money 
and  without  price.  The  Lord  will  be 
with  His  servants  as  He  was  anciently, 
and  the  gifts  and  graces  of  the  Gos- 
pel will  attend  upon  their  ministry; 
and  every  man  that  has  the  courage, 
faith  and  humility  to  humble  himself 


to  the  very  dust  in  the  spirit  of  re- 
pentance and  reformation  can  receive 
the  knowledge  of  the  truth  and  know 
that  the  doctrine  is  of  the  Lord.  I  have 
been  proving  this  doctrine  in  my  life 
and  labors  for  65  years.and  I  have  dem- 
onstrated its  truth,  its  power  and  its 
virtue,  and  can  commend  it  to  you,  my 
friends,  my  countrymen,  and  to  all  the 
world.  I  say  to  you,  as  a  man  whose 
word  is  unimpeachable,  that  this  doc- 
trine is  of  the  Lord.  The  Latter-day 
Saints  have  established  themselves  in 
your  city,  which  is  one  of  the  greatest 
cities  of  the  world,  and  destined  to 
grow  and  to  compare  with  any  other 
city  of  the  United  States.  The  city  ot 
the  Saints  on  the  banks  of  the  Missis- 
sippi 60  years  ago  was  the  equal  of 
Chicago;  but  Chicago  has  grown  and 
developed  to  her  present  proportions, 
and  has  not  yet  seen  one-half  of  her 
extent  in  miles ,  nor  one- tenth  of  the 
population  that  she  will  have,  for  there 
is  room  and  resources  around  here  to 
make  this  one  of  the  greatest  cities 
on  earth;  and  I  trust  that  it  will  be 
kept  a  good  city  and  well  governed. 

I  leave  this  testimony  with  you,  my 
brethren  and  sisters  and  friends,  and 
my  countrymen.  These  things  are  true, 
as  I  stand  before  you  tonight;  for  the 
Lord  hath  revealed  them  to  me  bv  His 
Holy  Spirit.  God  bless  you  and  put 
His  Spirit  into  your  hearts  and  give 
you  to  understand  the  truth.  It  is 
worth  more  to  you  than  the  millions 
that  are  gathered  in  this  great  city,  to 
know  His  will,  to  hear  His  voice,  to  en- 
joy His  inspiration,  to  know  that  you 
stand  in  His  favor  and  fellowship  in 
this  life,  that  you  may  enjoy  it 
throughout  eternity.  That  is  worth 
more  than  the  wealth  oT  the  world. 
God  bless  you,  my  brethren  and  sis- 
ters, in  the  name  of  Jesus,  Amen. 

PRESIDENT    ANTHON    H.    LUND. 

With  President  Smith  and  his  par- 
ty I  have  been  on  a  visit  to  Ver- 
mont, where  we  dedicated  a  monu- 
ment to  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith. 
Last  Saturday  it  was  just  a  hundred 
years  since  he  was  born,  and  we  felt  it 


JOSEPH   SMITH  MONUMENT. 


77 


fitting  to  raise  a  monument  on  the  very 
place  where  he  was  born. 

To  the  world  it  may  seem  strange  that 
we  believe  that  Joseph  Smith  was  a 
Prophet.  In  encyclopedias  and  books 
written  concerning  him.  he  has  been 
represented  as  an  impostor,  a  false 
prophet.  You  have  heard  the  testimony 
of  my  brethren  who  have  preceded  me. 
They  testify  that  they  know  he  was  a 
Prophet  of  God.  This  is  my  testimony 
also  to  you.  This  testimony  is  not 
based  on  a  guess,  but  the  Spirit  of  the 
Lord  has  made  it  known  unto  me;  and 
I  also  say,  as  Brother  Lyman  said, 
everyone  can  obtain  that  testimony  by 
doing  the  will  of  the  Lord. 

This  is  a  very  important  question  to 
all  the  world.  If  he  is  a  Prophet  of 
God,  as  we  testify,  it  is  important  that 
every  person  should  know  it.  If  he  was 
sent  of  God  into  the  world,  then  his 
message  is  of  the  utmost  concern  to  all. 
It  means  that  what  he  declared  was 
the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  But  many 
say  that  we  have  had  the  Gospel  ever 
since  the  days  of  Christ  upon  the  earth, 
and  what  need  therefore  of  another 
one?  What  need  of  a  new  prophet  to 
atfse  to  preach  the  Gospel  when  so 
many  millions  believe  in  Christ  as  the 
Savior,  or  at  least  profess  to  believe  in 
Him? 

It  was  prophesied  by  the  Apostles  for- 
merly that  there  would  come  a  time 
when  there  would  be  a  falling  away, 
that  men  would  not  believe  in  sound 
doctrine,  but  would  teach  for  doctrine 
the  commandments  of  men.  They  fore- 
saw a  time  when  men  would  usurp  the 
authority  to  preach  the  Gospel.  Paul 
says: 

"Now  we  beseech  you,  brethren,  by 
the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  by  our  gathering  together  unto  him, 

"That  ye  be  not  soon  shaken  in  mind, 
or  be  troubled,  neither  by  spirit,  nor  by 
word,  nor  by  letter  as  from  us,  as  that 
the  day  of  Christ  is  at  hand. 

"Let  no  man  deceive  you  by  any 
means;  for  that  day  shall  not  come,  ex- 
cept there  come  a  falling  away  first, 
and  that  man  of  sin  be  revealed,  the 
son  of  perdition; 

"Who  opposeth  and  exalteth  himself 
above  all  that  is  called  God,  or  that  is 


worshiped;  so  that  he  a*  God  sitteth  in 
the  temple  of  God,  showing  himself  that 
he*  is  God." 

At  the  time  Paul  wrote  this  *o  the 
Thessalonians  there  was  a  feeling  in  the 
Church  that  the  day  of  Christ  was  at 
hand,  and  Paul  did  not  want  them  to  be 
deceived.  He  saw  that  there  would 
come  a  falling  away  before  that  great 
day,  when  the  "man  of  sin"  should  be 
revealed  and  almost  make  himself  as 
God.  Such  a  time,  we  believe,  has  been 
upon  the  earth,  when  men  rejected 
sound  doctrine  and  accepted  doctrines 
that  were  formulated  by  men.  It  was 
not  long  after  the  Apostles  were  upon 
the  earth  that  they  began  to  teach  the 
doctrine  that  has  been  referred  to  to- 
night, that  God  was  an  impersonal  be- 
ing and  had  no£  a  body.  Now,  you  read 
the  Scriptures  from  beginning  to  encT 
and  you  will  find  how  they  point  to  the 
fact  that  God  our  Father  created  us  in 
His  image,  and  that  His  Son  was  in  the 
exact  image  of  the  Father.  Gradually, 
however,  the  doctrine  of  the  personality 
of  the  Father  was  rejected,  and  men 
formulated  in  its  place  the  doctrine  that 
God  had  neither  body,  parts  nor  pas- 
sions. What  kind  of  a  being  is  a  per- 
son without  body,  parts  or  passions?  It 
reminds  me  of  an  old  Bishop  in  Africa. 
They  made  it  a  law  in  his  church  that 
anyone  who  believed  that  God  had  a 
body  should  be  excommunicated.  He 
believed  in  the  God  that  was  taught  in 
the  Bible,  but  by  the  new  law  he  was 
forbidden  to  teach  this  and  was  com- 
pelled to  accept  of  a  God  without  body, 
parts  or  passions,  and  he  exclaimed, 
"Now  they  have  taken  my  God  away 
from  me." 

We  know  that  Jesus  had  a  body 
when  He  ascended  into  heaven, 
and  the  testimony  of  the  angels  unto 
the  Apostles  was  that  He  should  re- 
turn as  they  saw  Him  ascend.  They 
had  been  allowed  to  feel  of  His  body, 
and  it  had  been  demonstrated  to  them 
that  the  resurrected  body  was  the 
same  body  that  He  had  before  He  was 
crucified,  only  it  was  cleansed  of  all 
things  pertaining  to  corruption  and 
was  no  longer  subject  to  mortality.  It 
was  so  refined  that  He  could  appear 
amongst  the  Apostles  when  He  wanted 


78 


DEDICATION   OF 


to,  as  we  read  in  the  New  Testament. 
But  it  was  the  same  body,  and  they 
bore  testimony  to  the  fact  that  He  was 
resurrected  from  the  dead,  and  that 
He  ascended  to  heaven.  Then  we 
have  the  testimony  that  He  is  to  return 
as  He  ascended. 

We  are  told  by  Paul,  in  his  letter  to 
the  Philippians: 

"For  our  conversation  is  in  heaven; 
from  whence  also  we  look  for  the  Sav- 
ior, the  Lord  Jesus  Christ: 

"Who  shall  change  our  vile  body, 
that  it  may  be  fashioned  like  unto  His 
glorious  Body,  according  to  the  work- 
ings whereby  he  is  able  even  to  sub- 
due all  things  unto  himself." 

The  promise  is  here  given  that  we 
also  shall  be  resurrected  from  the  dead, 
and  that  our  vile  bodies  shall  be  fash- 
ioned like  unto  His  glorious  body.  This 
promise  is  to  those  who  believe  on  Him 
and  are  His  followers.  The  statement 
is  here  made  that  He  has  a  glorious 
body,  and  we  know  that  He  is  like 
unto  the  Father,  in  the  express  image 
of  the  Father,  and  hence  we  conclude 
that  the  Father  has  a  glorious  body 
also.  And  this  doctrine  pervades  the 
whole  Scriptures. 

Now  we  declare  unto  you  that  Joseph 
Smith  gave  this  doctrine  unto  us  by 
revelation,  and  it  is  entirely  consistent 
with  the  Scriptures.  He  was  a  Prophet 
and,  being  a  Prophet,  would  he  not  be 
most  likely  to  foretell  what  should  be- 
fall the  people  who  believed  in  him?  He 
did  so.  He  told  concerning  their  driv- 
ings from  place  to  place,  and  in  1844  he 
prophesied  that  they  should  go  to  the 
Rocky  mountains  and  there  become  a 
great  people.  We  have  seen  this  pro- 
phesy fulfilled.  The  Latter-day  Saints 
have  been  driven  from  city  to  city, 
from  state  to  state,  and  out  into  the 
desert.  He  said  that  they  should  make 
the  desert  to  blossom  as  the  rose.  It 
has  been  done.  Let  me  read  a  few  lines 
from  one  of  the  revelations  given 
through  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith: 

"But  before  the  great  day  of  the 
Lord  shall  come,  Jacob  shall  nourish  in 
the  wilderness,  and  the  Lamanites 
shall  blossom  as  the  rose. 

"Zion  shall  nourish  upon  the  hills 
and  rejoice  upon  the  mountains,  and 


shall  be  assembled  together  unto  the 
place  which  I  have  appointed." 

This  was  predicted  16  years  before  the 
Saints  went  out  into  the  desert  and 
located  upon  the  hills  and  the  moun- 
tains, and  before  the  Lamanites  com- 
menced to  receive  the  Gospel.  Joseph 
saw  in  vision  what  should  come  to 
pass,  and  prophesied  thus  concerning 
his  own  people.  And  as  there  were 
great  things  to  happen  in  this  nation, 
he  foretold  what  should  come  to  pass. 
Twenty-eight  years  before  the  Civil  war 
broke  out  he  prophesied  that  the  south 
should  rise  up  against  the  north,  and 
he  even  pointed  out  the  very  place 
where  it  should  start.  I  will  read  a 
part  of  the  prophesy,  given  Dec.  25, 
1832: 

"Verily,  thus  saith  the  Lord,  con- 
cerning the  wars  that  will  shortly  come 
to  pass,  beginning*  at  the  rebellion  of 
South  Carolina,  which  will  eventually 
terminate  in  the  death  and  misery  of 
many  souls. 

"The  days  will  come  that  war  will 
be  poured  out  upon  all  nations,  begin- 
ning at  that  place; 

"For  behold,  the  southern  states  shall 
be  divided  against  the  northern  states, 
and  the  southern  states  will  call  on 
other  nations,  even  the  nation  of  Great 
'Britain,  as  it  is  called,  and  they  shall 
also  call  upon  other  nations,  in  order 
to  defend  themselves  against  other  na- 
tions; and  thus  war  shall  be  poured 
out  upon  all  nations. 

"And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  after 
many  days,  slaves  shall  rise  up  against 
their  masters,  who  shall  be  marshaled 
and  disciplined  for  war: 

"And  it  shall  come  to  pass  also,  that 
the  remnants  who  are  left  of  the  land 
will  marshal  themselves,  and  shall  ber 
come  exceedingly  angry,  and  shall  vex 
the  Gentiles  with  a  sore  vexation." 

The  first  part  of  this  prophecy  has 
been  ulfilled.  I  remember  reading  this 
prophecy  four  or  five  years  before  the 
first  gun  was  fired  at  Fort  Sumpter; 
and  when  I  heard  the  news  about  the 
secession  I  felt  that  there  was  a  strong 
evidence  that  a  Prophet  had  been  in 
our  midst.  He  told  the  nation  what 
should  come  to  pass;  he  told  his  own 
people  what  should  happen  unto  them, 


JOSEPH  SMITH  MONUMENT. 


and  he  prophesied  a  great  many  things 
which  have  taken  place.  This  very  Book 
of  Doctrine  and  Covenants  contains 
many  revelations  that  we  have  seen  lit- 
erally fulfilled.  The  Book  of  Mormon 
likewise  contains  prophecies  which 
have  been  fulfilled  in  our  day.  Take 
the  prophecy  that  there  should  be  a 
gathering  out  from  all  nations.  The 
Book  of  Mormon  was  given  to  the  world 
before  the  Church  was  organized.  A 
poor  boy  in  a  backwood  settlement 
could  hardly  think  that  he  would  be 
able  to  stir  up  the  world  enough  to 
have  people  gather  from  all  nations  be- 
lieving in  his  message.  But  such  a 
revelation  came  to  him,  and  he  gave 
it  to  the  world  many  years  before  any- 
one was  gathered,  and  we  see  the  re- 
sult today.  We  see  a  people  gathered 
in  the  mountains,  trying  to  build  up 
a  Zion  unto  the  Lord.  They  are  cosmo- 
politan in  character,  for  they  have 
been  gathered  from  many  lands,  and 
the  prophecy  is  fulfilled. 

My  dear  friends,  this  testimony  that 
we  bear  to  you  is  worth  examining.  If 
you  will  compare  the  doctrines  pro- 
mulgated through  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith  with  the  Scriptures,  you  will  find 
they  are  consistent  in  all  points  with 
what  the  Apostles  taught  formerly.  All 
those  who  have  joined  the  Church  of 
Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints  in 
sincerity  and  obeyed  the  principles  of 
the  Gospel  will  bear  testimony  that 
what  was  promised  them  they  received. 
They  were  told  that  if  they  would  obey 
the  commandments  of  the  Lord,  be- 
lieve, repent  of  sins  committed,  go  Into 
the  waters  of  baptism,  and  make  cove- 
nant with  the  Lord  to  serve  Him,  they 
should  receive  the  Holy  Ghost,  which 
should  bear  witness  unto  them  of  the 
truth  of  the  Gospel.  Those  who  have 
received  this  Gospel  will  bear  testi- 
mony, as  I  bear  testimony  to  you,  that 
the  Gospel  is  true  and  that  they  have 
received  the  witness  of  it  through  the 
Holy  Ghost  as  promised.  God  bless 
you  all.  Amen. 

ELDER    C.    W.    PENROSE. 

I   have   been   very   much   interested 
this  evening  in  listening  to  the  testi- 


monies that  have  been  borne  by  my 
brethren  and  the  instructions  impart- 
ed, and  I  am  very  thankful  to  have 
the  opportunity  of  saying  a  few  words 
to  the  people  gathered  here  tonight. 

I  have  had  the  privilege  of  attending 
the  dedication  of  the  monument  to  the 
memory  of  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith. 
I     took     great  delight    in    it,    for    the 
same  reason  that  prompted  my  breth- 
ren to  go  there  and  that  inspired  the 
work  of  raising  that  beautiful  memen- 
to;  for  I  know  as  I  know  that  I  live 
that  Joseph  Smith,  whose  name  is  de- 
rided   among     a     great     many    people 
called  Christians,  was  in  very  deed  a 
prophet  of  the  living  God.     I  obtained 
that  testimony  when  I  was  a  boy.     I 
was  not  born  in  this  country.     I   was 
the  only  one  of  my  father's  house  who 
embraced  the  Gospel,  and  I  had  to  re- 
ceive it  in  face  of  a  great  deal  of  oppo- 
sition; but  the  Lord  made  manifest  to 
me  the  truth  of  it,and  who  was  I  that  I 
should  resist  the  truth  when  I  under- 
stood it?    I  was  born  in  London,  Eng- 
land.    I  heard  the  Elders   preach  the 
Gospel  in  my  native  land,  and  having 
been   well  acquainted   with   the'  scrip- 
tures   from   my   childhood    (for  I   was 
brought  up  in  a  Christian  family  and 
was     taught     the     Bible     in     Sunday 
school)    I  at  once  recognized  the  fact 
that  what  thev  taught  was  exactly  the 
same  as  that  which  was  taught  by  the 
Apostles   of  Jesus   Christ,   and   by  the 
Lord  himself.    I  investigated,  I  prayed. 
I  earnestly   desired  to  know  the  mind 
and  will  of  the  Lord,  and  it  was  made 
clear  to  my  mind  that   the   principles 
advocated    by    the    Elders    were    true, 
and     I    commenced     to     defend    them 
when   they   were   attacked  by   persons 
who   opposed   the     Latter-day    Saints. 
Then  the  question  arose  in  my  mind. 
If  you  believe  in  these  principles  and 
will    defend   them   when   they    are   at- 
tacked, why  don't  you  obey  them?     So 
I  went  forward,  according. to  the  com- 
mand of  the   Lord,     and    obeyed    the 
Gospel,  by  faith  and  repentance  and  by 
being  immersed   in   water  for   the   re- 
mission of  sins  by  a  man  claiming  to 
hold    authority    from    the    Lord,    and 
hands  were  laid  upon  me  that  I  might 
receive   the   Holy   Ghost.     I   testify  to 


80 


DEDICATION  OF 


you  tonight,  before  the  Lord,  before 
the  angels,  and  I  am  willing  to  bear 
the  same  testimony  before  all  the 
world,  that  the  spirit  and  power  of 
God  rested  down  upon  me  and  mani- 
fested the  truth  of  these  principles.  I 
knew  then,  as  I  know  now,  that  Jo- 
seph Smith  was  in  very  deed  a  proph- 
et of  the  living-  God,  raised  up  to 
usher  in  the  last  dispensation  spoken 
of  by  the  Apostle  Paul  in  his  epistle 
to  the  Ephesians,  1st  chap..  10th  and 
llth  verses,  wherein  he  says: 

"Having  made  known  unto  us  the 
mystery  of  his  will,  according  to  iits 
good  pleasure  which  he  hath  purposed 
in  himself: 

"That  in  the  dispensation  of  the  ful- 
ness of  times  he  might  gather  to- 
gether in  one  all  things  in  Christ, 
both  which  are  in  heaven,  and  which 
are  on  earth." 

Joseph  Smith  was  raised  up  to 
usher  in  that  dispensation — the  last 
and  greatest  dispensation  of  God's 
mercy  to  man.  And,  as  we  have  heaul 
tonight,  there  was  a  great  necessity 
for  the  raising  up  of  a  man  of  God 
who  could  commune  with  the  heavens. 
Revelation  had  been  shut  off  for  hun- 
dreds of  years,  not  because  God  was 
not  willing  to  reveal  himself  to  man- 
kind, but  because  mankind  had  re- 
jected the  principle  of  revelation. 
They  did  not  draw  near  unto  God  ex- 
pecting to  hear  anything  from  Him. 
They  were  taught  by  their  ministers 
and  preachers  that  the  days  of  revela- 
tion were  passed,  that  "the  awful 
voice  of  prophecy  was  stilled  forever," 
that  the  canon  of  scripture  was  full, 
and  that  God  would  not  reveal  him- 
self again.  So  they  did  not  seek  Him 
in  faith,  and  it  is  only  by  faitli  that 
He  can  be  approached.  But  when  the 
boy  Joseph  Smith,  bewildered  by  what 
he  heard  from  the  different  denomina- 
toins  concerning  the  way  of  the  Lord, 
finding  them  conflicting  one  with 
another,  yet  all  professing  to  be- 
lieve in  the  Bible — when  he  was 
puzzled  in  his  mind  and  desirous  in  his 
soul  to  learn  the  truth,  he  went  into 
his  father's  grove  (which  we  have  just 
had  the  pleasure  of  visiting)  and  pray- 


ed to  the  Lord  in  earnestness  that  He 
would  show  to  him  the  truth;  for  he 
had  read  in  the  1st  chapter  of  James, 
"If  any  of  you  lack  wisdom,  let  him 
ask  of  God,  that  giveth  to  all  men  lib- 
erally, and  upbraideth  not;  and  it  shall 
be  given  him.  But  let  him  ask  in  faith, 
nothing  wavering."  He  went  in  faith, 
and  prayed  to  the  Lord  earnestly  to 
make  manifest  the  truth  to  him;  and 
in  that  grove  God  heard  his  prayer, 
and  descending  from  on  high  in  a  pil- 
lar of  light  the  Father  and  the  Son 
were  disclosed  to  him.  The  Father, 
pointing  to  the  Son,  said,  "This  is  my 
beloved  Son:  hear  him." 

Joseph  Smith's  prayer  was  answered, 
and  he  gave  to  this  generation  that 
grand  and  glorious  truth  which  some 
of  my  brethren  have  talked  about  here 
tonight,  that  the  Father  is  not  a  mere 
myth,  not  a  being  without  body,  or 
form,  or  shape  or  likeness,  not  some- 
thing that  cannot  be  grasped  by  the  hu- 
man mind,  "without  body,  parts  or  pas- 
sions," but  a  being  who  made  man  in 
His  own  image  and  likeness,  and  from 
Whom  our  immortal  spirits  have 
sprung.  For  we  are  the  sons  and  daugh- 
ters of  God,  and  He  is  in  very  deed  our 
Father,  as  Christ  came  to  make  mani- 
fest. Said  he,  "When  ye  pray,  do  not 
pray  after  the  manner  of  the  heathen; 
but  after  this  manner  pray  ye:  Our 
Father,  which  art  in  heaven."  He  came 
from  the  Father  to  manifest  the  Fath- 
er. He  was  God  manifest  in  the  flesh, 
because  He  was  exactly  in  the  image 
and  likeness  of  our  Eternal  Father. 
God  made  Himself  manifest  to  the 
Prophet  Joseph  Smith,  and  he  was  then 
able  to  proclaim  to  the  world  the 
truth  concerning  the  Father.  "This  is 
eternal  life,"  said  Jesus  Christ,  when 
He  was  praying  to  the  Father,  "that 
they  may  know  Thee,  the  only 
true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ  whom 
Thou  hast  sent."  So  the  Lord  made 
manifest  to  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith 
that  great  truth  to  open  this  dispen- 
sation, and  He  promised  him  that  in 
due  time  the  principles  of  the  everlast- 
ing Gospel  should  be  made  manifest  to 
him  in  their  fulness.  When  Joseph  saw 
these  heavenly  Beings,  he  asked  which 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


81 


of  all  the  churches  he  should  join;  for 
among  the   many  different   denomina- 
tions there  was  so  much  conflict,  one 
eayingr,  "This  is  the  way,  walk  ye  in 
it,"  and  another  telling      a     different 
story,  and  so  on,  that  he  was  at  a  loss 
to  know  which  was  the  true  way  and 
the  true  Church.    The  Son  told  him  not 
to  go  after  any  of  them,     for      "they 
draw  near  to  me  with  their  lips,  but 
their  hearts  are  far  from    me;      they 
teach  for  doctrines  the  commandments 
of  men,  having  a  form  of  godliness,  but 
denying  the  power  thereof.'     In  time, 
as  the  Ix)rd  promised,  he  was  visited 
by  angels,  according  to  the  prediction 
of  John  the  Revelator  fthat  we  heard 
about  tonight.    In  the  14th  chapter  of 
Revelation,   6th   and   7th   verses,    John 

say,,       Bancroft  LibriS! 

"And  I  saw  another  angel  fly  in  the 
midst  of  heaven,  having  the  everlast- 
ing Gospel  to  preach  unto  them  that 
dwell  on  the  earth,  and  to  every  nation, 
and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people. 

"Saying  with  a  loud  voice.  Fear  God, 
and  give  glory  to  Him;   for  the  hour 
of  His  judgment  is  come;  and  worship 
Him  that  made  heaven,  and  earth,  and 
the  sea,  and  the  fountains  of  waters." 
Not  bow  down  to  a  myth,  a  shadow; 
not  bow  down  to  that  which  one  of  the 
learned  men  of  the  age  has  described 
as   "a  fog      floating    through    space," 
without  form,  or  shape,  or  likeness;  but 
"worship  Him  that  made  heaven,  and 
earth,  and  the  sea,  and  the  fountains 
of  waters."     The  angel   was  to  come 
I  bring  the  Gospel,  for  every  nation 
and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people' 
showing  that  when  the     angel    should 
come  the  whole  world  would  be  without 
the  fulness  of  the  Gospel.    That  angel 
came  to  the  Prophet  Joseph,  and  dis- 
posed to  him  the      place     where    the 
plates    were     hidden    from    which    he- 
erwards  translated  the  Book  of  Mor- 
mon.   Then  other  messengers,  who  liv- 
ed in  former  dispensations,  came  and 
conferred  upon  him  authority  and  pow- 
to  (build   up   the  kingdom   of   God 
in   the    latter  days,    spoken   of   by   all 
the  holy  prophets  since  the  world  be- 
gan.    We  are   living   in    the   time   of 
the  restitution      of    all      things,    that 


-  Peter  spoke  of.  in  the  which  the  Lord 
will  restore  all  things  that  have 
been  lost.  We  are  living  in  the  grandest 
dispensation  ever  opened  to  man;  and 
the  Father  and  Son  came  in  person  to 
open  it.  Angels  also  have  come  down 
from  the  courts  of  glory  and  brought 
light,  power,  truth  and  authority;  and 
men  are  living  now  upon  the  earth 
holding  that  authority.  Joseph  Smith 
was  inspired  and  authorized  of  God  to 
build  up  the  Church  of  Christ  after  the 
ancient  pattern,  with  prophets,  apos- 
tles, evangelists,  pastors  and  teach- 
ers. "For  the  perfecting  of  the  Saints, 
for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  for  the 
edifying  of  the  body  of  Christ,  till  we 
all  come  in  the  unity  of  the  faith,  and 
of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God." 

This   is  what   we  proclaim     to     the 
world,  that  knowledge  concerning    the 
Father  and   the   Son  may   be  had  by 
obeying  the  will  of  the  Lord.    The  Lord 
has  commanded  and  given  authority  to 
His  servants,  as  in  ancient  times,  to  go 
into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  Gos- 
pel to  every  creature.    "He  that  believ- 
eth  and  is  baptized,  shall  be  saved;  but 
he  that  believeth  not  shall  be  damned. 
And  these  signs  shall  follow  them  that 
believe:     In  my  name  shall  they  cast 
out  devils;  they  shall  speak  with  new 
tongues;   they  shall  take  up  serpents; 
and  if  they  drink  any  deadly  thing:,  it 
shall    not    hurt   them;    they    shall    lay 
hands  on  the  sick,  and  they  shall  re- 
cover."   These  promises  were  fulfilled  in 
former  times;  they  have  been  fulfilled 
in  latter  times;  for  the  same  power,  in- 
fluence and  authority  given  to  the  an- 
cient Apostles  have  been  restored  to  the 
earth,    and    will    not    be    taken    away 
again.    The  Gospel  will  be  preached  to 
every  nation,  kindred,  tongue  and  peo- 
ple   under    the    whole    heavens.     More 
than  that,  our  ancestors,  many  of  whom 
were  just  as  good  as  men  and  women 
could  be,  also  the  heathen  nations  who 
never  heard  the  Gospel  of  Christ  in  the 
flesh       and     have     gone,    by  millions, 
behind  the  veil— they  also  will  hear  the 
Gospel.    For  the  Lord's  plans    are  not 
contracted  and  bound  up  to  the  narrow 
sphere    of   this    little   globe    on    which 
we  live;  but  all  the  inhabitants  of  the 
earth  are  His  sons  and  daughters,  and 


82 


DEDICATION  OF 


an  opportunity  will  be  given  to  every 
one  to  hear  the  truth  as  it  is  in  the 
Lord.  As  we  have  heard  tonight,  there 
is  but  one  way,  and  there  cannot  be 
any  other.  There  could  not  be  half  a 
dozen  true  religions,  unless  there  were 
half  a  dozen  true  Gods.  There  is  one 
Lord,  one  faith,  one  baptism,  one  hope 
of  our  calling,  and  strait  is  the  gate 
and  narrow  the  way  that  leads  unto 
life,  and  few  there  be  that  find  it  in 
this  world;  but  the  time  will  come  when 
the  servants  of  God,  clothed  with  the 
power  and  authority  sent  down  from  on 
high,  after  they  have  finished  their 
work  in  this  life,  will  proclaim  the  mes- 
sage of  life  and  salvation  in  the  spirit 
world,  like  Jesus  Christ,  their  Master, 
(as  recorded  in  Peter's  first  epistle, 
third  chapter,  18-20  verses)  who,  "be- 
ing put  to  death  in  the  flesh,  but 
quickened  by  the  spirit,  went  and 
preached  to  the  spirits  in  prison,  which 
sometime  were  disobedient,  in  the  days 
of  Noah,  while  the  ark  was  preparing." 
In  the  fourth  chapter,  sixth  verse,  he 
declares,  "For  this  cause  was  the  Gos- 
pel preached  also  to  them  that  are  dead, 
that  they  might  be  judged  according  to 
men  in  the  flesh,  but  live  according  to 
God  in  the  spirit." 

Who  knew  anything  about  these 
things  until  the  Lord  revealed  them  in 
the  latter  days  through  Joseph  Smith? 
Who  knew  that  the  Gospel  could  be 
preached  to  the  dead  as  well  as  the 
living?  That  when  mankind  leave  the 
body  they  are  sentient  beings — entities; 
not  myths  floating  in  the  air,  but  in- 
dividuals, whose  bodies  are  coverings 
for  the  spirit?  The  body  is  in  the  form 
of  and  a  covering  for  the  spirit;  and  all 
the  intelligence  that  we  learn  in  this 
world  we  carry  with  us  to  the  world  be- 
yond. People  there,  as  well  as  here,  can 
believe;  they  can  be  taught  and  in- 
structed; they  can  repent;  they  can 
turn  unto  God,  or  they  can  rebel 
against  Him;  for  the  principle  of  agen- 
cy is  there,  as  it  is  here.  When  *we 
shuffle  off  this  mortal  coil  and  it  drops 
into  the  grave,  we  emerge  into  the  other 
life  as  individuals,  with  the  ex- 
perience we  have  gained,  -with  a 
knowledge  of  evil  as  well  as 
of  good,  with  an  appreciation 


of  pain  as  well  as  pleasure,  with  an 
understanding  of  the  opposites.  When 
we  get '  behind  the  veil  we  can  learn 
and  progress.  For  progress  is  the  or- 
der of  the  universe,  while  eternal  ages 
come  and  go.  And  so  the  Gospel  will 
be  preached  to  every  creature  living, 
and  to  those  we  call  dead. 

These  are  a  few  of  the  simple  things 
that  have  been  revealed  through  the 
Prophet  Joseph  Smith.  He  was  in- 
spired of  God;  he  was  full  of  iighk 
and  intelligence;  he  was  clothed  with 
power.  He  communed  with  the  heav- 
ens, and  the  heavens  were  opened  to 
his  gaze.  He  has  poured  out  such  a 
flood  of  principle  and  of  truth  that 
we  could  not  begin  to  talk  about  these 
things  in  one  short  evening  that  we 
are  privileged  to  have  here  among  the 
people  of  Chicago.  But  we  have  made 
a  little  explanation  of  a  few  of  the 
first  simple  principles  of  the  Gospel  of 
Christ.  This  is  but  the  beginning;  for 
the  Lord  designs  in  the  great  dispen- 
sation of  the  fulness  of  times  to  re- 
store all  things  that  have  been  lost.  If 
there  has  been  a  truth  made  manifest 
in  the  ages  gone  by,  it  will  be  brought 
forth  in  this  great  age.  If  there  is 
a  doctrine,  an  ordinance,  a  command- 
ment, a  revelation  of  any  kind  that 
has  been  given  in  former  times,  wheth- 
er written  or  unwritten  (for  a  great 
many  things  have  been  written  that 
have  not  been  placed  in  the  Bible,  and 
the  Bible  speaks  of  books  that  we 
have  not  now  in  that  compilation), 
all  will  be  restored  in  this  last  dis- 
pensation. And  though  wicked  men 
shed  the  blood  of  Joseph  Smith  and 
his  brother  Hyrum,  and  they  sealed 
their  testimony  with  their  blood,  the 
spirit  and  power  which  God  gave  to 
them  have  been  left  with  the  Church, 
and  the  keys  which  He  gave  to  the 
Prophet  Joseph  Smith  have  descended 
to  his  successors,  and  rest  down  today 
upon  our  present  president,  Joseph  F. 
Smith,  his  nephew,  a  son  of  the  Patri- 
arch Hyrum;  and  the  Lord  has  de- 
creed that  these  keys  shall  not  be  tak- 
en from  the  earth.  They  are  the  keys 
spoken  of  which  "bind  on  earth  and 
it  is  bound  in  heaven,  and  loose  on 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


83 


earth  and  it  is  loosed  In  heaven." 
They  are  the  keys  and  authority  of 
the  holy  Priesthood,  and  of  the  apos- 
tleship.  And  they  will  not  be  taken 
away  from  the  earth  again,  but  they 
will  remain  and  accomplish  the  work 
for  which  they  have  been  revealed;  for 
these  are  the  last  days,  the  days  pre- 
paratory to  the  coming  of  the  Son  of 
Man,  and  this  work  is  going  forward 
to  prepare  the  way.  He  will  come  the 
second  time,  not  as  the  babe  of  Beth- 
lehem, not  to  be  despised  and  reject- 
ed of  men,  but  He  shall  come  in  the 
clouds  of  heaven,  with  power  and 
great  glory*  to  "take  vengeance  on 
them  that  know  not  God  and  obey  not 
His  Gospel,"  because  it  will  have  been 
preached  to  them  and  they  will  have 
had  the  opportunity  of  receiving  it. 
He  shall  come  to  be  "admired  of  His 
Saints,"  to  reign  upon  the  throne  of 
His  father  David,  and  His  dominion 
shall  extend  unto  the  uttermost  parts 
of  the  earth,  and  all  nations  and  king- 
doms and  peoples  shall  be  subdued  un- 
to Him.  But  before  that  great  and 
terrible  day  of  the  Lord  shall  come 
there  will  be  war,  famine,  pestilence 
and  earthquakes  in  divers  places,  and 
all  the  other  things  that  Christ  pre- 
dicted as  signs  of  His  coming.  One 
of  these  signs,  remember,  was:  "And 
this  Gospel  of  the  kingdom  shall  be 
preached  in  all  the  world  for  a  wit- 
ness unto  all  nations  and  then  shall 
the  end  come." — Matth.  xxiv,  14. 

I  bear  testimony  to  you  tonight  that 
this  Gospel  has  been  restored  and  is 
now  being  preached  as  a  witness  un- 
to the  nations  of  the  earth,  my  breth- 
ren, and  I  have  traveled  in  many  na- 
tions. I  have  had  the  pleasure  and 
privilege  of  lifting  up  my  voice  in 
defense  of  these  principles  for  nearly 
55  years  ,and  I  rejoice  in  them  with 
all  my  soul,  for  I  know  they  are  true, 
arid  that  they  have  come  down  from 
God  out  of  heaven  in  the  last  days  as 
a  witness  to  the  world.  And  that 
Gospel  will  be  preached,  the  Saints  of 
God  will  be  gathered,  the  honest,  true 
and  virtuous  of  every  land  and  clime 
will  be  attracted  towards  us,  and  the 
time  will  come  when  the  walls  of  pre- 


judice will  be  broken  down,  and  the 
clouds  of  error  will  disappear,  and  the 
light  of  truth  will  shine  forth,  and 
thousands  of  people  who  now  smile  at 
these  things  and  reject  them  in  their 
hearts  will  seek  after  them  eagerly  and 
rejoice  to  receive  a  testimony  of  their 
truth. 

It  is,  no  doubt,  a  difficult  thing  for 
you,  my  young  brethren  who  are  labor- 
ing here  in  Chicago,  to  battle  against 
the  prejudice  that  exists  and  the  dense 
darkness  that  overspreads  the  minds  of 
the  children  of  men,  who   think  they 
are  basking  in  the  rays  of  Gospel  light 
and  yet  are  without  a  word  from  on 
high,  without  a  revelation  from  above, 
without   speaking   even   under   the  in- 
spiration   of    the    Holy    Ghost.       It   is 
a  hard  task  for  you  to  undertake;  but 
keep   on   trying.       Do  not   be  discour- 
aged.     Keep  on  with  your  good  work, 
and  the  time  will  come  when  you  will 
see  the  fruit  of  the  seed  you  are  sow- 
ing.      If   you    do    not    see    it    in   this 
world,    you   will   in   the    world    behind 
the  veil.       Thousands  upon  thousands 
who  have  heard  this  Gospel  preached 
and  have  not  obeyed  it  will  be  glad  to 
receive  it  after  they  have  paid  the  ut- 
termost   farthing    for    their    sins,    t-nd 
they  will  be  ready  to  bow  the  knee  to 
King   Immanuel.       It    matters   not    so 
long  as  you  do  your  work,   bear  your 
testimony  and  lift  up  your  voices.    Do 
not  be  weary  in  well-doing.       In  due 
season    you    shall    reap,    if    you    faint 
not,  and  the  power  and  blessing  of  God 
will  be  upon  you.      The  Lord  loves  you, 
your  parents  and  friends  in  the  moun- 
tains are  praying  and  fasting  for  you, 
that  God  may  bless  you,  support  you 
and  keep  you  in  safety  from  the  world. 
I  feel  in  my  heart  tonight  full  of  bless- 
ing for  these  my  brethren.       If  there 
were  time,  I  would  like  to  enlarge  upon 
these  glorious  principles,  but  I  feel  that 
I  have  spoken  too  long  already.     I  am 
thankful  for  this  opportunity.      I  love 
this  work  with  all  my  soul.       I  know 
it  is  true.      I  know  it  will  prevail.      I 
know  Joseph  Smith  was  a  prophet  of 
the  living  God,   and  that  includes  the 
testimony  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  that 
He  who   died   on   Calvary  was   indeed 


84 


DEDICATION  OF 


the  Son  of  God,  that  God  is  our  Father. 
and  that  He  loves  us  and  desires  our 
salvation;   but  he  cannot  save  us  ex- 
cept on  the  principles  of  eternal  truth, 
for    if   He   tried   to   do   so   He   would 
cease  to  be  God.      He  is  God  because 
He  lives  by  the  truth  and  by  the  eter- 
nal principles  of  justice,   mercy,   light 
and    intelligence.      And    He    wishes    to 
raise  us  up   from   our  low  level,  .and 
place  our  feet  in  the   path  which,   if 
we  will  pursue  it,  wil  bring  us  glory, 
immortality  and  eternal  life  and  a  place 
forever  in  the  presence  of  our  Father 
and  our  Elder  Brother,  Jesus  Christ. 

God  bless  the  Saints  here  in  Chicago! 
God  bless  the  people  who  have  gath- 
ered in  this  house  tonight,  and  may 
the  testimonies  that  have  been  born 
sink  deep  into  their  hearts  and  never 
leave  them!  That  is  the  best  wish  I 
can  have  for  you,  my  friends.  May 
the  testimony  of  the  truth  abide  with 
you;'  and  if  you  will  follow  it  out  and 
seek  to  the  Lord  in  the  prayer  of  faith, 
He  will  answer  your  prayers  and  will 
lead  you  in  the  way  of  salvation, which 
will  be  of  more  value  to  you  than  all 
the  wealth  of  the  world.  May  His  peace 
and  blessing  abide  with  you,  through 
Jesus  Christ.  Amen. 

PRESIDENT    JOSEPH    F.    SMITH. 

I  do  not  wish  to  trespass  upon  your 
time,    but  I    feel    as  though    I  would 
like   to   say  a  few  words  to   our   El- 
ders   and    Saints    who    live     in      and 
around  this  city  and  who  are  present 
this  evening.        We  have  heard    very 
strong   testimonies   from   our   brethren 
in  relation  to  the  divine  mission  of  the 
Prophet   Joseph    Smith    and    the   great 
sacrifice  made  by  the  Son  of  God  for 
the  redemption  of  mankind.     Our  El- 
ders   are   sent   out   into   the   world    to 
bear  testimony  of  these  things,  to  teach 
the  pure  truth,  and  to  show  men,  not 
only  by  their  words,   but  particularly 
by  their  example,  just  how  they  should 
live   in  this   world  in  order   that   they 
may  obtain  the  favor  of  the  Lord,  that 
they  may  walk  in  the  light  as  He  is  in 
the  light,  that  they  may  have  fellow- 
ship with  Him,  and  that  the  blood  of 


Christ  may  cleanse  them  from  all  sin. 
I  would  like  to  say  a  word  or  two  to 
our   brethren    who   are   laboring   here, 
and  to  those  who  are  studying  in  the 
various  colleges  and  universities  here. 
I  wish  to  admonish  them  to  remember 
who  they  are  and  what  they  are,  who 
and  what  their  parents  are,  what  they 
have  been  taught  at  home,  and  what 
manner  of  men  they  should  be  while 
they  are  out  in  the  world  engaged  in 
the  ministry  or  in  study.     Brethren,  I 
want  you  to  live  above  suspicion.    Live 
so   that   no  man   on   earth   can  justly 
point  to  a  single  blemish  in  your  char- 
acters.    Keep  yourselves  pure  and  un- 
spotted from  the  world.     It  is  proper 
for  all  men.  but  it  is  especially  essen- 
tial for  you,  who  are  called  to  be  teach- 
ers and  exemplars,  to  keep  yourselves 
pure,   to   be  honest  with  your  fellow- 
men,  and  to  keep  your  word  as  sacred- 
ly  as    you    would    have    to   keep    your 
bond.     I  would  like  it  to  become  un- 
derstood,   by   the    life   you    lead,    that 
your  word  is  at  all  times  equal  to  any 
bond    you    could    give,    with    a3l    /the 
security  it  was  possible  to  attach  to  the 
bond.  You  are  not  sent  here  to  pick  peo- 
ple to  pieces,  to  tear  down  their  idols.to 
destroy  their  religious  faiths,  to  attack 
their   churches,    or   to   do   anything  of 
that  kind.      If  you  have  a  better  house 
than  your  neighbors  have,    show  them 
what  you  have,  but  do  not  undertake 
to  destroy  theirs.      Invite  them  kindly, 
as  one  who  loves  his  fellowman,  to  en- 
ter into  your  house;   and  if  they  can 
be  made  to   see,   by  the   wisdom  and 
judgment  which  the  Lord  may  bestow 
upon  them,  that  you  have  builded  bet- 
ter than   they,   they  may  accept  what 
you  have  to  offer  them,  and  if  they  do 
it  will  be  to  the  honor  and  glory  of 
God  and  to  their  own  salvation. 

It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  those 
who  are  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  lat- 
ter days  shall  not  be  given  to  intoxica- 
tion, nor  to  the  use  of  tobacco.  Now, 
it  may  be  thought  a  very  little  thing 
for  us  to  lay  any  stress  upon  the  use 
of  this  narcotic;  but  we  do.  Why? 
Because  it  was  revealed  through  the 
Prophet  Joseph  Smith  that  tobacco  was 
not  for  man.  It  is  a  poison;  it  is  in- 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


85 


jurious  to  the  system;  and  it  is  wrong 
for  Latter-day  Saints  to  use  it.  There- 
fore, we  enjoin  upon  our  Elders  that 
they  shall  abstain  absolutely  from  the 
use  of  tobacco  in  any  form  or  shape, 
as  they  also  must  abstain  from  the  use 
of  intoxicating  drinks.  They  must  keep 
aloof  from  these  things,  for  as  sure  as 
they  indulge  in  them  they  lose  mastery 
over  themselves  and  become  abject 
slaves  to  a  depraved  appetite.  We  ask 
you  Elders  and  you  Latter-day  Saints 
living  out  here  among  the  people  of  the 
world,  to  observe  these  principles  of 
the  Gospel,  so  that  no  man  can  say  to 
you,  Physician,  heal  thyself;  mend 
thine  own  ways. 

I  want  to  say  to  those  who  are  at- 
tending school  here,  Keep  close  to  the 
president  of  the  mission.  Do  not  be 
ashamed  of  him,  nor  of  his  association. 
Hunt  him  up,  lend  him  your  influence, 
go  to  the  meetings,  uphold  his  hands, 
sustain  him  in  his  ministry,  and  you 
will  be  prospered  and  blessed  in  your 
studies.  The  Lord  will  bless  you  in 
such  a  course,  and  you  will  feel  bet- 
ter; you  will  be  able  to  keep  your- 
selves from  the  allurements  that  sur- 
round you  in  this  great  city,  and  you 
will  have  nothing  to  hinder  your  pro- 
gress in  study,  because  you  will  be 
clean  and  without  blemish,  with  your 
minds  unimpaired  and  unencumbered 
with  regrets  for  wrongdoing.  In  this 
way  you  will  be  able  to  accomplish 
your  mission  and  work  far  better  than 
you  can  possibly  do  by  separating  your- 
selves from  your  friends.  Whenever 
you  see  a  young  man  from  Utah  afraid 
to  meet  his  brother  or  his  presiding 
officer,  or  trying  to  avoid  his  presence, 
you  may  set  it  down  as  an  absolute 
truth  that  there  is  something  wrong 
in  that  young  man.  He  has  either 
transgressed  some  law  of  God,  or  he 
has  done  something  to  grieve  the  Spirit 
of  the  Lord  from  his  soul,  and  there- 
fore he  is  ashamed  to  meet  his  broth- 
er and  look  him  in  the  face.  He  who 
is  guiltless,  clean,  and  keeps  himself 
pure,  is  not  afraid  to  meet  his  friends 
or  those  whom  he  knows  are  ministers 
of  life  and  salvation.  The  wicked  ir?  i 
may  hate  a  good  man;  not  that  b" 


any  reason  for  doing  so,  but  he  simply 
feels  that  way.  Evil  will  not  coalesce 
with  good.  He  that  loves  sin  and 
practises  vice  and  wickedness  will  not 
seek  the  company  of  the  pure  and  up- 
right; rather  will  he  seek  his  own 
level  and  associate  with  his  own  class. 

To  you,  my  brethren  and  sisters  who 
have  embraced  the  Gospel  through  the 
teachings  of  these  Elders,  I  would  say, 
Live  your  religion — the  religion  of 
Jesus  Christ.  Be  true  to  your  God. 
Remember  your  prayers.  Try  to  do 
good  to  your  neighbors.  Do  not  re- 
turn evil  for  evil.  Pray  even  for 
those  that  hate  you  and  despitefully 
use  you.  Seek  to  do  good  to  those 
who  actually  do  wrong  to  you.  Our 
mission  is  to  save,  to  do  good,  no  mat- 
ter what  others  may  do.  We  cannot 
gauge  our  cburse  by  the  conduct  of 
others.  We  have  but  one  standard, 
and  that  is  the  example  of  the  Son  of 
God,  who  was  without  sin,  and  who 
obeyed  the  Father  in  all  things.  We 
do  not  ask  you  to  obey  men,  nor  to 
follow  men.  I  never  asked  a  man  to 
follow  me  in  all  my  life,  except  in  so 
far  as  I  was  following  Christ.  If  I 
can  follow  Him  better  than  someone 
else,  then  I  may  consistently  invite  my 
brother  to  follow  me.  My  doctrine— 
the  doctrine  of  the  Elders  of  the  Church 
of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints, 
always  has  been  and  is,  follow  Christ. 
Let  Him  be  your  example.  Emulate 
His  works,  His  words,  His  life;  and  If 
it  be  possible  for  human  beings  to  be 
pure  as  He  was  pure,  righteous  as  He 
was  righteous,  let  them  be  so,  and  they 
will  be  that  much  nearer  to  the  Lord. 

Our  time  is  so  short  now  that  I  feel 
it  would  not  be  right  for  me  to  con- 
tinue my  remarks.  I  am  delighted  to 
have  the  privilege  of  meeting  you  here 
this  evening.  I  have  had  great  pleas- 
ure in  listening  to  my  brethren.  We 
have  a  dozen  more  good  Elders  with 
us,  any  one  of  whom  could  stand  up 
here  and  interest  you,  teaching  and 
reasoning  upon  principle  and  the  doc- 
trines of  our  Church,  and  if., we  had 
time  I  would  be  glad  to  hear  from  them 
all.  The  Lord  bless  you.  The  Lord 
"bless  my  brethren  in  the  ministry  here. 


83 


DEDICATION  OF 


Brethren,  remember  that  your  lives, 
your  happiness,  your  hope  of  exaltation, 
all  depend  upon  your  uprightness,  your 
honor,  your  integrity  to  the  truth,  your 
firmness  in  keeping  yourselves  Dure 
and  unspotted  from  the  world. 

There  may  be  some  of  this  congrega- 
tion who  have  heard  a  little  of  the  mis- 
representation   that   is     going     around 
about    us.    and    to    them    I    would    say 
that  we  send  out  our  Elders  to  preach 
the  truth  to  the  world,  and  they  are 
forbidden  by   those  who  hold  the  au- 
thority to  send  them  out  to  entice  any 
person  into  the  Church  against  his  or 
her  will,   or  against  the  will  of  those 
who  have  rightful  control  over    them. 
An  Elder  has  no  right  to  baptize,  or  to 
persuade  to  be  baptized,  a  boy  or  girl 
contrary  to  the  will  of  the  parents,  nor 
a  woman  contrary  to  the  wish  of  her 
husband.    We  are  not  seeking  for  wo- 
men; we  have  women  of  our  own,  and 
they    are    as    good    and    pure    as    ever 
women   wera   on   this    earth.     We   are 
not   sending  these  young  men  out  to 
interfere    with    your    family    relations, 
or  to  disturb  your  home  happiness  and 
peace.    They  come  to  you  simply  with 
the  offer  of  life  and   salvation,   as   we 
Jtiave  received  it  from  God,   and  they 
leave  you  to  accept  or  reject  it,  as  you 
please.      If    you    see    anything    wrong, 
unjust,  unrighteous  or  evil  in  an  Elder 
of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Lat- 
ter-day Saints,    you  may  set   it  down 
absolutely  that  he  has  departed  from 
his   faith   and   from    the  rules   of   the 
Church,  and  is  under  condemnation  be- 
fore  the    Lord.     God    bless   you,     my 
friends.     I   feel   to    bless   all   who  are 
here.    Peace  be  unto  you.    We  come  to 
bring  peace  to  the  world,  not  the  sword. 
We  do  not  come  to  turn  man  against 
man,  but  we  bring  to  you  that  peace 
which  comes  through  obedience  to  the 
commandments  of  the  Lord.    May  God 
bless  you  all,  is  my  prayer  in  the  name 
of  Jesus.    Amen. 

Benediction  was  pronounced  by  Elder 
Frank  Y.  Taylor. 

HOMEWARD   BOUND. 

At  the  close  of  the  meeting  the 
party  returned  to  the  train,  finding 
their  car  ready  for  occupation,  and 


started  for  home  on  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern,  reaching  Omaha  at  3 
p.  m.  on  Saturday,  Dec.  30th.  The  Un- 
ion Pacific  train  pulled  out  on  time 
and  was  soon  speeding  toward  the 
west  on  the  smooth  track  of  that 
great  railroad,  but  in  the  night  travel 
was  delayed  in  consequence  of  ob- 
structions ahead,  caused  by  a  mishap 
to  a  freight  train. 

During  the  entire  journej^,  while  on 
the  cars,  a  service  of  song  and  prayer 
was   held  ev_ery   evening   in   which   all 
of  the  company  joined,  and  on   Sun- 
day, New  Tear's  Eve,  a  special  testi- 
mony meeting  was  held  at  which  every 
person  present,  except  the  baby,  gave 
an    address,    expressing    gratitude    for 
the  privilege  of  going  on  the  momen- 
tous   journev.    of    visting     the     sacred 
places  celebrated  in  early  Church  his- 
tory,  and    especially  of  attending   the 
dedication    of   the    monument    to    the 
Prophet    Joseph    Smith    on    the    spot 
where  he  was  born.    They  also  testified 
to  a  knowledge  of  his  divine  mission, 
and    of  the    ultimate   triumph    of   the 
work,  which,  under  Divine  inspiration, 
he  commenced  in  the  latter  days.  They 
congratulated  each  other  on  traveling 
the    entire   journey  without   any  mis- 
hap,   unpleasantness,    offense   in   word 
or  deed,  or  anything  to  cause  a  cloud 
to  come  over  the  company.     They  re- 
turned thanks  to  President  Smith  for 
his   kindness   in  giving   them    the   op- 
portunity they  had  enjoyed,  and  pour- 
ed out  their  feelings  of  love  and  fel- 
lowship   for   each      other.      President 
Joseph  F.  Smith  in  closing  the  meet- 
ing, was  greatly  blessed  with  the  spirit 
of  inspiration,  and  mentioned  the  good 
works    and    great    services    performed 
in  behalf  of  the  Church  by  a  number  . 
of  the  Elders  who  were  present.     He 
expressed  his  regrets  that  representa- 
tives   of   other   families   prominent    in 
the  early  history  of  the  Church,  who 
had  been  invited,  were  unable  to  join 
in  the  journey  to  the  east.     The  spirit 
that  was  enjoyed  was  highly  uplifting 
and  comforting  to  all  who  were  pres- 
ent, and  formed  a  fitting  climax  to  the 
enjoyable  services  held  during  the  trip. 
At  the  close,  Elder  C.  W.  Penrose  of- 
fered the  following 


JOSEPH    SMITH    MONUMENT. 


87 


PREAMBLE     AND     RESOLUTIONS, 
which  were  unanimously  adopted: 

Whereas,  This  goodly  company,  by 
the  blessing  and  watchcare  of  our 
heavenly  Father  and  the  kindly  court- 
esy of  our  beloved  President  Joseph  F. 
Smith,  have  journeyed  safely  and 
pleasantly  to  the  birthplace  of  Joseph 
the  Seer,  to  the  sacred  hill  Cumorah, 
to  Kirtland,  and  to  other  historic 
places  in  the  east,  and  are  now  return- 
ing in  peace  to  our  homes  in  the  west; 
and 

Whereas,  Our  railway  connections 
and  privileges  and  accommodations 
have  been  admirably  arranged  so  as  to 
save  us  from  numerous  inconveniences 
and  annoyances  common  to  travel  on 
long  distances  and  different  lines  of 
railroad,  showing  the  work  of  a  skil- 
ful guiding  hand;  and 

Whereas,  We  recognize  in  our  es- 
teemed and  faithful  friend  and  broth- 
er, George  Albert  Smith,  the  active 
and  directing  force  that  has  been  ex- 
ercised in  bringing  about  these  good 
results,  and  in  the  abundant  provision 
that  has  been  made  for  our  many 
wants;  and 

Whereas,  He  has  exhibited  at  every 
point  and  under  every  circumstance 
that  energy,  promptness,  diligence  and 
patience  that  indicate  a  splendid  char- 
acter, and  at  the  same  time  has  shown 
to  all  the  courtesy  and  forbearance 
which  bespeak  the  true  gentleman;  now 
therefore, 

Be  it  Resolved,  That  we  hereby  ten- 
der to  Elder  George  Albert  Smith  our 
heartfelt  thanks  for  his  unpaid,  devoted 
and  earnest  attentions  to  each  of  us, 
his  wise  supervision  of  affairs,  his  uni- 
form, cheerful  manner  and  his  deport- 
ment as  a  true  Latter-day  Saint,  and 
that  we  severally  and  unitedly  express 
our  gratitude  to  him  and  ( assure  him 
that  he  will  ever  live  in  our  souls  as  a 
dear  and  cherished  brother,  to  whom 
we  are  under  obligations  for  which  no 
material  rewards  can  furnish  compen- 
sation, and  that  we  invoke  upon  him 
the  blessings  of  the  Most  High  God  to 
be  enjoyed  by  him  in  time  and  eternity. 
(Signed)  Joseph  F.  Smith,  Anthon  H. 
Lund,  Francis  M.  Lyman,  John  Henry 
Smith,  Hyrum  M.  Smith,  Charles  W. 
Penrose,  Seymour  B.  Young,  Rulon  S. 
Wells.  L.  W.  Shurtliff,  Frank  T.  Taylor, 
Jesse  M.  Smith,  George  F.  Richards, 
Ashby  Snow.  Arthur  Winter,  Oliver  L. 
Richards,  John  Smith,  Angus  M.  Can- 
non Lorin  Farr,  George  Romney,  Elias 
A.  Smith,  Joseph  F.  Smith,  'Jr.  Brig- 
ham  F.  Grant,  Benjamin  Goddard, 
John  McDonald,  Ida  B.  Smith  Alice  A. 
Richards,  Ina  C.  Smith,  Susa  Young 
Gates,  Edith  A.  Smith. 

President  Joseph  F.  Smith  presented 


the  annexed  resolution  which  was  also 
unanimously  adopted. 

On  Pullman  Car  "Sofala," 

Dec.  31,  1905. 

Hon.  W.  H.  Bancroft,  Vice  Pres't.  and 
Gen.  Mgr.,  Orgon  Short  Line  Ry., 
Salt  Lake  City. 

Dear  Sir:  We,  the  company  of  trav- 
elers from  Salt  Lake  City  to  South 
Royalton,  near  Sharon,  Vt.,  in  thb, 
Pullman  car  "Sofala,"  having  been  fa- 
vored with  special  courtesies  and  at- 
tentions on  the  several  railroads  ovei 
which  we  have  passed,  particularly  in 
the  transfer  of  the  'car,  so  that  we  have 
had  its  continuous  use  and  occupation 
throughout  the  entire  trip  going  and 
coming,  and  highly  appreciating  the 
influence  exercised  by  you  in  this  be- 
half, hereby  express  to  you  our  grati- 
tude for  your  kindness,  and  our  thanks 
to  each  of  the  companies  which  at  your 
thoughtful  suggestion  have  thus  con- 
tributed to  our  comfort.  We  have  jour- 
nieyed  in  peace  and  returned  in  safety, 
over  finely  constructed  and  well  con- 
ducted railroads,  and  unitedly  extend 
to  you  the  wishes  of  thankful  hearts 
that  you  may  long  continue  to  enjoy 
the  confidence  of  the  public  as  a  rail- 
road official  and  manager  of  the  high- 
est class  and  the  respect  and  honor 
which  we  feel  for  you.  Success  and 
happiness  attend  you  forever. 

In  behalf  of  myself  and  fellow  travel- 
ers, I  remain,  Very  Respectfully, 

JOSEPH  F.  SMITH. 

Mrs.  Susa  Young  Gates  read  a  poem 
of  her  own  compositon,  full  of  wit  and 
pleasant  references  to  every  member  of 
the  company,  which  was  highly  appre- 
ciated and  received  with  great  ap- 
plause. 

THE  EVENING  CLUB. 

It  was  the  custom  every  evening 
while  the  berths  were  being  made  up  by 
the  efficient  porters  for  the  male  mem-  • 
bers  to  repair  to  the  smoking  room  and 
hold  an  informal,  anecdote  gathering, 
which  at  the  firsrt  session  was  named  the 
Lincoln  club,  where  many  amusing  and 
some  instructive  stories  were  told  by 
different  narrators.  Not  one  of  the 
party,  however,  indulged  in  the  use  of 
tobacco,  so  the  club  room  was  entirely 
free  from  the  offensive  odor  of  tobac- 
co smoke,  much  to  the  surprise  of  t.he 
porters  after  the  first  night  out.  The 
ladies  on  board  contributed  much  to 
the  pleasure  of  the  trip  by  their  pres- 


DEDICATION   OF   JOSEPH   SMITH   MONUMENT. 


ence,    attentions,     smiling     faces     and 
musical  voices,  God  bless  them! 

CLOSE  OF  THE  TRIP. 

It  was  a  remarkable  journey.  About 
5,500  miles  of  travel  were  covered.  There 
was  not  a  hitch  in  the  arrangements 
that  were  made,  the  special  car  was 
moved  from  line  to  line  and  station  to 
station  according  to  plans  laid  out.  No 
accident  happened;  not  a  cross  word 
was  spoken,  although  the  company  was 
sometimes  inconveniently  crowded. 
Everybody  vied  in  kindness,  helpful- 
ness, and  good  feeling.  There  was  no 
indulgence  in  anything  improper  in 
word  or  deed,  and  a  heavenly  feeling 
pervaded  the  company  and  was  carried 
by  its  members  to  every  place  which 
they  visited.  Their  presence  aroused  no 
animostity  at  any  point.  They  were 
treated  with  the  utmost  respect  and 
consideration.  They  are  indebted  to  the 
Oregon  Short  Line,  Union  Pacific,  Chi- 
cago &  Northwestern,  Nickel  Plate, 
Boston  &  Maine,  West  Shore  and  Cen- 
tral Vermont  lines,  over  which  they 
passed,  for  the  prompt  attention  given 
which  greatly  facilitated  their  transit, 
and  made  the  trip  enjoyable.  The  train 
arrived, in  Salt  Lake  City  at  12:50  p.  m. 
instead  of  5:15  a.  m.,  but  the  delay  was 
unavoidable  and  was  taken  good-hu- 
moredly  and  patiently  by  everybody 
in  the  "Sofala." 

Good  results  cannot  fail  to  accrue 
from  this  visit  by  President  Smith  and 


his  fellow  travelers  to  the  points  tuch- 
ed  on  the  journey.  Seeds  were  sown  In 
the  souls  of  men  and  Women  whom 
they  met,  which  will  bring  forth  fruits 
in  the  future  that  will  well  repay  the 
trouble  and  expense  of  the  trip,  and  will 
glorify  God  and  aid  in  the  building  up 
of  His  kingdom  on  earth.  It  was  a 
splendid  commemoration  of  the  birth 
of  the  great  Seer  of  the  latter  days, 
and  will  be  remembered  by  all  who  par- 
ticipated in  the  celebration,  in  time 
and  eternity.  It  riveted  the  bonds  of 
friendship,  brotherhood  and  sisterhood 
around  those  who  formed  the  travel- 
ing company,  and  intensified  in  their 
souls  a  testimony  of  the  truth  which 
they  had  received  from  on  high.  They 
parted  with  mutual  benedictions,  and 
all  were  impressed  with  the  noble, 
manly  and  fatherly  presence  and  coun- 
sel of  the  President  of  the  Church,  who 
bears  the  keys  that  were  bestowed  up- 
on his  martyred  uncle  and  father  and 
who  is  revered  by  the  Latter-day  Saints 
as  a  worthy  successor  of  the  mighty 
men  who  preceded  him.  The  journey 
was  a  pronounced  success;  the  monu- 
ment reared  is  a  magnificent  memento, 
and  the  year  of  our  Lord  Nineteen 
Hundred  and  Five'  was  bidden  a  fond 
farewell  by  as  cheerful,  united  and  de- 
voted a  band  as  could  be  found  in  any 
part  of  the  earth,  although  traveling 
in  a  railway  car  through  the  snowy 
heights  of  the  western  slope  of  the 
Rocky  mountains. 


• 


^Kc    'r>*5*Sn 

Sse 


* 

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